Righteous Blood (2021)

Michael Pare is Jericho, a wanted man with a $2,000 price on his head, no money, no horse and lots of bounty hunters looking to collect that reward.

He might not even be alive if not for a chance encounter with Father Elijah Ramirez (Joseph Camilleri), who sends one of those bounty hunters off in the wrong direction.

Jericho’s desperate situation leads him a Mrs. Boswell, who has an unusual job offer. She wants him to kill her young, feeble-minded son.

With the boy out of the way, she’ll be able to reunite with her estranged husband; he considered it an abomination to raise such a child.

Even with all the blood on his hands from previous murder-for-hire jobs, Jericho can’t bring himself to shoot the young boy.

Instead, he sets out in search for Father Ramirez, hoping he’ll be able to find someone to care for the child.

The good father directs Jericho to a young woman named Charlotte (Emily Whitcomb). She’s been abandoned by her husband because she hasn’t been able to give him a child.

Charlotte willingly takes the young boy into her home. She welcomes Jericho too.

But wanted posted and bounty hunters stand in the way of his hopes for a fresh start, even with Father Ramirez on his side.

Review:

If an award was handed out for most prolific blood spurts from gunshot wounds in a Western, this film just might win it.

There isn’t, of course, so we’re left with another mixed bag of a Western from Rene Perez, who previously served up “A Good Day to Die” (2015), “From Hell to the Wild West” (2017) and “Once Upon a Time in Deadwood” (2019).

On the plus side, Michael Pare delivers a decent performance in the lead role; Emily Whitcomb is endearing as Charlotte.

There’s Jericho’s odd assignment: to kill a young boy. And there’s a delightful reunion between Charlotte and her ex-husband late in the film.

But you’re likely to cringe when the padre takes one look at a nondescript wanted poster and immediately recognizes Jericho.

And you might howl with laughter when Charlotte’s ex shows up with divorce papers after a long absense, just in case she wasn’t pregnant.

And howl even louder at the dialogue (see below) when Jericho comes to Charlotte’s rescue as she’s acosted by a bounty man with carnal intentions.

Directed by:
Rene Perez

Cast:
Michael Pare … Jericho
Joseph Camilleri … Father Ramirez
Emily Whitcomb … Charlotte
Gordon Rocks … The Boy
Dan Bernstein … Stewart
Alexandra Amerell … Mrs. Boswell
Eric David Tippett … Bo

Runtime: 76 min.

Music: The Darkest Machines

Memorable lines:

Bounty hunter: “It was just work. I needed the money.”
Jericho, looking down at the gunshot man: “Well, I guess you’ve been paid in lead.”

Jericho, after the padre has sent a bounty hunter away: “You could have made yourself a rich man.”
Padre: “Dollars don’t interest me. But your soul does.”

Jericho: “Padre, you could wash me in the blood of the savior. But it isn’t going to wash the blood from these hands.”

Padre: “The first act of compassion is important. It’s a step toward change.”
Jericho: “Padre, don’t get carried away. I’m just looking for a place to stash that boy.”

Bounty hunter to Charlotte: “Damn, you are a 4th of July firecracker, aren’t ya?”

Jericho, preparing for a showdown with a bounty hunter that was attacking Charlotte: “I left a boy at your front door. If this should be my hour, I want your word that you’ll raise the boy til he can stand on his own.”
Charlotte: “You have my word. But I ask one thing of you. Kill this bastard good. And shoot him in the balls.”
Jericho: “I like a girl with a dirty mouth. Rest assured, ma’am.”

Emily Whitcomb as Charlotte, trying to outwit a potential attacker in Righteous Blood (2021)

Michael Pare as Jericho, trying to communicate with the young boy in Righteous Blood (2021)