Lone Rider (2008)

Lou Diamond Phillips plays Bobby Hattaway, who returns home to Pelton after 15 years of service in the U.S. Cavalry. He hopes to help his father (Stacy Keach), mother and cousin Curtis run their general store.

Upon arriving in Pelton, he’s greeted by a childhood friend, Stu Croacker (Vincent Spano), who now owns most of Pelton.

He’s also married to Bobby’s former sweetheart, pretty blonde Constance Croaker, who spends her time these days drowning her sorrows with booze.

Bobby learns very quickly that Stu isn’t exactly a faithful husband. He’s slower to discover than Stu is also determined to own all of Pelton, and is especially envious of the three wells on the Hattaway homestead.

When trickery and thievery don’t force the Hattaways to call it quits, bullets start flying. Bobby’s dad is among the first to fall. He won’t be the last.

Tom Schanley plays Mike Butler, a cavalry buddy who shows up to help Bobby.

Angela Alvarado plays Serena Sanchez, the new lady with a hold on Bobby’s heart.

And Timothy Bottoms plays Gus, the sheriff put in office by Croaker, but who eventually changes sides.

Lou Diamond Phillips as Bobby Hattaway, getting a rude reception from Croaker’s henchmen in Lone Rider (2008)

Vincent Spano as Stu Croaker, plotting to take the Hattaway land in Lone Rider (2008)

Review:

Predictable for the most part, but far from the worst of Hallmark’s quickie Westerns. And directed at an absolute break-neck pace. Do not leave the DVD running while you take a bathroom break.

Spano’s villain is a little over the top, though the way he delights in showing off his wife makes for a nice twist. Cynthia Preston, a former daytime soap star, plays that wife and proves a nice — and eye-pleasing — addition to the cast.

But one of the better performances is turned in by Tom Schanley, Phillips’ sidekick, who delights in helping even the odds against Croaker and his band of henchmen.

Cynthia Preston as Constance, Bobby’s former girlfriend, now married to Stu Croaker in Lone Rider (2008)

Angela Alvarado as Serena Sanchez, the Mexican girl who steals Bobby’s heart in Lone Rider (2008)

Directed by:
David S. Cass Sr.

Cast:
Lou Diamond Phillips … Bobby Hattaway
Stacy Keach … Robert Hattaway
Marta DuBois … Momma Hattaway
Terry Maratos … Curtis
Tom Schanley … Mike Butler
(Bobby’s cavalry buddy)
Vincent Spano … Stu Croaker
Cynthia Preston … Constance Croaker
Angela Alvarado … Serena Sanchez
Timothy Bottoms … Gus (the sheriff)
Robert Baker … Vic (Croaker’s man)
Mike Starr … Lloyd (Croaker’s man)

Runtime: 83 min.

Stacy Keach as Robert Hattaway, Bobby’s dad, being squeezed out of business by Stu Croaker in Lone Rider (2008)

Marta DuBois as Momma Hattaway, welcoming her son home in Lone Rider (2008)

Memorable lines:

Croaker: “You can still have a piece of the pie.”
Hattaway: “What piece is that?”
Croaker: “The piece I say you can have.”

Croaker, to his wife, Constance: “Stop drinking that liquid courage. It makes you stupid.”

Ma Hattaway: “Bobby, I will throw a party when that son of a bitch (Croaker) is roasting in hell. But I don’t want you to help him get there. I need you alive.”

Tom Schanley as Mike Butler, ready to help Bobby even the score with Stu Croaker in Lone Rider (2008)

Timothy Bottoms as Gus, the sheriff more committed to serving Stu Croaker than justice in Lone Rider (2008)

Terry Maratos as Bobby’s cousin Curtis, about to land in trouble again in Lone Rider (2008)

Ann Walker as Irene, the woman who introduces Bobby to Serena in Lone Rider (2008)

Vincent Spano as Stu Croaker, getting rough with wife Constance (Cynthia Preston) in Lone Rider (2008)

Lou Diamond Phillips as Bobby Hattaway, questioning the sheriff’s commitment to his job in Lone Rider (2008)