Michael Town is William Teller, and he’s had a falling out with mining partner Eustus O’Leary (Michael Peter Bolus ) in the closing days of the California Gold Rush.
Knowing William can’t read, Eustus has him sign a document relinquishing rights to a promising new claim for the meager sum of $100.
When William returns home to his wife Kate, he gets even more distressing news.
She’s been feeling ill. The doctor has visited. And he’s informed her she has “something that can’t be fixed.”
She passes away, shortly thereafter. And Williams heads off to a new claim with son Thomas (Christopher Gerse), who blames his father for his mother’s death.
They bond over the discovery of a new vein of gold. But bad luck is following William.
They’ve decided to head back to town with saddlebags full of gold when their horses are stolen by someone — Indians, perhaps — in the middle of the night.
Traveling on foot, through rough terrain, they’ll be easy to catch up with.
And that’s a problem because Eustus is on their trail with a hired killer named C.G. Hawkins, a man who already has nine notches on his six-gun.
Michael Town as William Teller, balking at a business deal that leaves him with just $100 for a gold mine in Teller’s Camp (2023)
Michael Peter Bolus as Baron Eustus O’Leary, confronting an angry William Teller in Teller’s Camp (2023)
Review:
An odd little low-budget Western. It features an earnest performance by Michael Town in the lead role, some humorous dialogue as Eustus and his hired gun discuss his quest for vengeance, but few other redeeming qualities.
That thirst for vengeance, by the way, runs deeper than a dispute over gold.
Turns out Eustus was in love with William’s wife. She chose William instead.
And turns out Eustus’s pretty daughter Sadie has fallen in love with an undesirable — none other than Thomas Teller, William’s son.
Thomas might even have “touched” Sadie. And Eustus can’t stand for that. He wants the Tellers dead. And he wants them to suffer on their way to the grave.
Christopher Gerse as Thomas Teller, dejected after falling into the hands of one of Eustus’s men in Teller’s Camp (2023)
Olivia Olson as Sadie O’Leary, defending her father when William Teller comes calling in Teller’s Camp (2023)
Directed by:
Jared Zabel
Cast:
Michael Town … William Teller
Megan Ward … Kate Teller
Michael Peter Bolus … Baron Eustus O’Leary
Christopher Gerse … Thomas Teller
Olivia Olson … Sadie O’Leary
Joe McNeal … Sammie
Greg McGowen … C.G. Hawkins
Brandon Papo … Bret Danko
Jonathan Zabel … Pastor Lawson
Justine Hong … Zhi Yong
Galyn Gorg … Chenoa
Runtime: 80 min.
Greg McGown as C.G. Hawkins, hired killer for Eustus O’Leary in Teller’s Camp (2023)
Brandon Papo as Brett Danko, eager to prove his usefulness with a gun to Eustus O’Leary in Teller’s Camp (2023)
Memorable lines:
Sadie O’Leary: “Mr. Teller, I don’t always agree with my father either, but he doesn’t deserve to die today. And neither do you.”
William Teller: “You think you can kill a man? Do you?”
Thomas Teller: “Maybe not. But I can probaby shoot a horse thief.”
Thomas Teller: “I don’t wanna die out here in the middle of god-damned no where.”
William Teller: “Don’t use the Lord’s name in vain.”
Thomas: “That’s what you care about?”
William: “The mercy of the Lord may be the only thing that saves us.”
Thomas: “Sorry, Lord.”
William Teller: “You work for Eustus. He’s a snake who can’t be trusted.”
C.G. Hawkins: “Snakes are alright. You just have to pay them the proper respect. That’s all.”
Megan Ward as Kate Teller, on her death bed and talking to her son in Teller’s Camp (2023)
Michael Town as William Teller, in a fight for his life, his son and his gold in Teller’s Camp (2023)
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