Lisa Butala is Rose Dunn, a wannabe outlaw who’s having trouble gaining acceptance in an outlaw gang that includes her two older brothers.
But after a trip to town to resupply, she winds up with the law on her trail, thanks to another woman.
That other woman is Ellie (Nicole Mattox), a free-spirited whore who marches into a saloon, plants a bullet in the head of her estranged husband and lets out of whoop in celebration.
Rose fires a couple of shots in the air as a distraction, pulls Ellie onto the back of her trusty steed Dusty and gallops back to the outlaw’s camp.
That gang had already decided to break up and reform in Ingalls, Okla. This development makes dispersing all the more urgent and contentious.
So contentious, Tom, a gang member in favor of killing the girls, winds up badly wounded.
George “Bittercreek” Newcomb, the outlaw who wounded him, decides to help the gals to safety. After all, he’s a bit sweet on Rose.
But she has this nasty habit of rescuing damsels in distress. She does it again when a woman gallops by, tied to a saddle.
Newcomb guns down the two men following her, only to discover one is a lawman. Belle, the new member of his party, was about to be hanged.
Now he and the three women are heading into the desert, hoping to dodge renegade Apaches, a gang member out for vengeance and a posse.
Worse yet, the price on Newcomb’s head keeps rising. So high, Rose’s brothers might be tempted to cash in.
Easily the best of the three Westerns directed so far by Brett William Mauser. That trio also includes “Lady Lawman” (2021) and “The Oldest Posse” (2023).
Lisa Butala, who had a bit part in the latter film, turns in a solid performance here. Nicole Mattox is an absolute delight as the carefree Ellie.
Just check out the scene in which she threatens to shoot a hole in Dunn’s cowboy hat because her new friend won’t “frolic.”
The film also features a well-thought out and somewhat surprising ending.
Ah, but this is a low-budget Western. Which means the action scenes aren’t very convincing. Some of the dialogue is difficult to understand. And the cinematography is subpar.
Oh, and judging from a short clip featured in the closing credits, the Lady Outlaw might meet up with the Lady Lawman in a future Western.
Directed by:
Brett William Mauser
Cast:
Lisa Butala … Rose Dunn
Christopher Henry … George “Bittercreek” Newcomb
Nicole Mattox … Ellie
Wes Gillum … Marshal Hixon
Katrina Nsheiwat … Belle
Cliff Dean … Bill Dunn
Jason Lee Boyson … Calvin Dunn
Michael Ochotorena … Tom
Mike McCullough … Dalton
Kenny Schreiber … Charlie Pierce
Brett Mauser … Jack McKnight
Liz McCullough … Sally
Patricia E. Sandoval … Mary
Runtime: 104 min.
Memorable lines:
Marshal Hixon, having gunned down a female bandit: “What’s this world comin’ to when women take to outlawin’?”
Dunn’s brother Bill to Rose: “Lay there and die. Or stand and live. Your choice.”
Rose Dunn, as the trio ride off as quickly as they can: “Who’s the posse after?”
George Newcomb: “Us.”
Ellie: “This is kinda fun.”
Dunn: “You ain’t quite right, are you?”
Ellie, watching George from a distance and declaring him handsome: “Think he likes whores?”
Dunn: “Never met a man that don’t.”
George to Rose Dunn, speaking about Ellie: “Now she might have you thinkin’ she’s some innocent little dove. But I’ve been around. And I’ve seen crazy before. And it is livin’ all up in her eyes. And trouble always follows crazy.”
Belle, having just been rescued by Rose Dunn: “I presume I’m in the presence of honest, decent folk.”
Ellie, quite gleefully: “I’m a whore. They’re outlaws. We are honest and decent, nonetheless.”