Purgatory (1999)

An outlaw gang fleeing a botched bank robbery gets lost in a sandstorm.

They wind up in a town called Refuge, where none of the lawmen wear guns, where violence — hell, even cussing — are frowned upon.

The gang, led by Blackjack Britton (Eric Roberts) and Cavin Guthrie, figures it’s a town that will make for some easy pickings once they’re rested and healed from their most recent run-in with the law.

But Leon “Sonny” Dillard (Brad Rowe), a youngster who rides with the gang, is a big fan of dime novels and begins to recognize faces in Refuge.

The sheriff (Sam Shepard) sure looks like Wild Bill Hickock. The shopkeeper like Jesse James. And the doctor … well, like Doc Holliday.

His suspicions about Refuge are confirmed when he falls for a girl named Rose, a girl with rope marks around her neck.

At which point he wonders why the heroes of his dime novels aren’t standing up to the bullying by Blackjack Britton and his gang.

Brad Rowe as Leo ‘Sonny’ Dillard, the young man who figures out Refuge in Purgatory (1999)

Amelia Heinle as Rose, the young woman Sonny falls for in Purgatory (1999)

Review:

Much better than the premise sounds, thanks in part to a believable performance by Brad Rowe as the young man who joins an outlaw gang for excitement and quickly learns it’s not nearly so glamorous.

Having Sam Shepard around surely helps, as does a gritty performance from Eric Roberts as leader of the outlaws.

Turns out Refuge is a town where some of the dead go for a last chance at redemption.

If they can live there for seven years as peaceful citizens, they advance to heaven. If not, it’s pure hell.

Longtime Western character actor R.G. Armstrong plays the coachman to drives the stagecoach to the hereafter.

Sam Shepard as Sheriff Forrest, aka Wild Bill Hickock, in Purgatory (1999)

Randy Quaid as Doc Woods, aka Doc Holliday, in Purgatory (1999)

Directed by:
Uli Edel

Cast:
Sam Shepard … Sheriff Forrest / Wild Bill Hickock
Eric Roberts … Blackjack Britton
Randy Quaid … Doc Woods / Doc Holliday
Peter Stormare … Cavin Guthie
Brad Rowe … Leo “Sonny” Dillard
Donnie Wahlberg … Deputy Glen / Billy the Kid
JD Souther … Brooks / Jesse James
Amelia Heinie … Rose / Betty McCullough
Shannon Kelly … Dolly Sloan / Ivy
John Dennis Johnston … Lamb / “Lefty” Slade
Saginaw Grant … Gatekeeper
R.G. Armstrong … Coachman
John Diehl … Badger

Runtime: 94 min.

Eric Roberts as Blackjack Britton, leader of the outlaw gang that finds its way to Refuge in Purgatory (1999)

Peter Stormare as Cavin Guthrie, the uncle Sonny followed down the outlaw trail in Purgatory (1999)

Memorable lines:

Blackjack, as the outlaws flee a posse: “We’ve got a long ride ahead of us. Those who can keep up with me, I’ll see you in Chihuahua. The rest of you, I’ll see you in hell.”

Cavin Guthrie, one of the outlaws: “I feel like I was eaten by a coyote and crapped off a cliff.”

Sheriff Forrest: “You’re walking a thin line, son.”
Deputy Glen: “That man all but slapped you in the face with a glove.”
Sheriff Forrest: “That’s not what I’m talking about. You said ‘damn.’ Twice.”

Doc Woods to Sonny: “I suggest you reflect on your situation. A few bad choices, and a man could lose his soul.”

Sonny: “Is Refuge like a place where you get a second chance?”
Rose: “Last chance is more like it.”

Coachman: “The Creator’s tough, but he ain’t blind.”

Donnie Wahlberg as Deputy Glen, aka Billy the Kid, in Purgatory (1999)

J.D. Souther as shopkeeper Brooks, aka Jesse James, in Purgatory (1999)

Shannon Kenny as Dolly Sloan, the harlot with a heart of gold in Purgatory (1999)

R.G. Armstrong as the coachman in Purgatory (1999)