Shoot First and Pray You Live (2010)

The story of Red Pierre, a flame-haired young man with a quick gun and a score to settle.

His mom died of cholera shortly after his birth. She had lived the last days of her life as a captive and plaything for three men — Bob McGurk, Sheriff H.A. Douglas and Mac Hurley.

She killed Douglas before she died. Red has gunned down Hurley and his bodyguard. That leaves the most vicious of the three, McGurk.

And now there’s another reason to want McGurk dead — he’s mortally wounded Matt Ryder, the man who says he’s Red’s dad, the man who delivered Red to a monastery to be raised after Irene died.

Killing McGurk won’t be easy, but Red might have some help.

He’s been adopted by the Boone gang. He’s to be a surrogate for the leader’s son, Hal, who has just been killed.

But first he has to prove himself worthy of the gang’s company.

Besides, there’s that lucky charm he was given upon leaving the monastery. Or is it lucky after all?

Jeff Hephner as Red Pierre, outlining his conditions for joining Jim Boone and the cutthroats in Shoot First and Pray You Live (2010)

James Russo as a younger Bob McGurk, terrorizing the woman who refused to marry him in Shoot First and Pray You Live (2010)

Review:

Deliciously different and, as the title implies, an attempt to make a Spaghetti Western in the 21st century. There are flashbacks and flashforwards. There are split screens and footage shown backwards. There are parts told graphic novel style.

McGurk makes a suitably snarling villain. Pierre is a good-looking young gunman capable of pulling off the lead.

Some of the scenes — like the wasp discussion — will leave you scratching your head.

Some of the scenes will leave Spaghetti fans smiling because, hey, maybe the genre isn’t dead and forgotten.

Shannon Zeller as Jack Boone, the tomboyish daughter of outlaw leader Jim Boone in Shoot First and Pray You Live (2010)

John Doman as Jim Boone, the outlaw leader who recruits Red Pierre to replace a lost son in Shoot First and Pray You Live (2010)

Directed by:
Lance Doty

Cast:
Jeff Hephner … Red Pierre
James Russo … Bob McGurk
John Doman … Jim Boone
Shannon Zeller … Jack Boone
Richard Tyson .. Black Gandil
Clay Wilcox … Dick Wilber
Chris Browning … Garry Patterson
Frederick Lopez … Roderigo Venalez
Jim Gaffigan … Mart Ryder
Tamara Hope … Irene Melody
Stephen Payne … Mac Hurley
Erik Bockemeier … Sheriff H.A. Douglas

aka
Shoot First and Pray You Live (Because Luck Has Nothing to Do with It)

Runtime: 110 min.

Jim Gaffigan as Matt Ryder, watching over Irene as she battles illness in Shoot First and Pray You Live (2010)

Tamara Hope as Irene Melody, vowing vengeance against McGurk and his men in Shoot First and Pray You Live (2010)

Memorable lines:

Jack Boone, on Red Pierre replacing her brother, Hal, in the Boone gang: “You could try til the rattlers got tame. It’d take 10 of you to make one Hal.”

1st gang member: “Ain’t nothin’ makes a crowd remember it’s hell like a pair of barkin’ sixes.”
2nd gang member: “Well, that may be. But once they’ve heard the sound of bone crunchin’ under (sledge) hammer, there’s nothin’ to hold ’em.”

Red Pierre to Black Gandil: “That cold in your heart … that’s part hate. But it’s more fear.”

Red Pierre to McGurk: “I wonder how one death can repay all you’ve done.”

Richard Tyson as Black Gandil, the gang member who thinks Red Pierre is bad luck in Shoot First and Pray You Live (2010)

Luce Rains as Phil Branch, a member of the cutthroats in Shoot First and Pray You Live (2010)

Frederick Lopez as Roderigo Venalez, a member of the cutthroats in Shoot First and Pray You Live (2010)

Clay Wilcox as Dick Wilber, a member of the cutthroats in Shoot First and Pray You Live (2010)

Chris Browning as Gary Patterson, a member of the cutthroats in Shoot First and Pray You Live (2010)

Stephen Payne as Mac Hurley, one of the men accompanying McGurk on the raid of Irene’s home in Shoot First and Pray You Live (2010)

James Russo as Bob McGurk, wearing a patch after an earlier showdown with Red Pierre in Shoot First and Pray You Live (2010)

Jeff Hephner as Red Pierre, ready for a final showdown with Bob McGurk in Shoot First and Pray You Live (2010)