Sergio Cantu is the marshal, a lawman who’s just gunned down one bad guy and learned the locaiion of Samual, the outlaw he’s really seeking.
But before he heads out in search of that man, he figures he’d better round up a posse to improve his chances of bringing Samuel back alive.
You see, Samuel’s the son of a long-time colleague named Grant (Jake Jecmenek). And he’d prefer not to gun down Grant’s son.
His posse winds up including Foster, a crack shot turned preacher; Fire Cloud, an Indian tracker; and Grant.
Then there’s Walker, a man the marshal found walking naked through the desolute Texas countryside after he’d been robbed of his horse and all his clothing.
Given just a knife upon his return to town, he’s proved his toughness. Walker figures he’s along to pull the trigger on Samuel if necessary since all the other members of the posse are old acquaintances.
They’re eventually joined by Reeves, a black man who joined Samuel’s gang in hopes of nabbing the outlaw himself, only to see that plan backfire.
As for Samuel, he knows there’s a posse on his trail. And that the posse includes his father.
Sergio Cantu as the marshal, tracking Samuel and his gang with the help of fellow veteran lawmen in The Oldest Posse (2023)
Jaek Jacemenek as Grant, the retired lawman who rides again to help track down his own son in The Oldest Posse (2023)
Review:
At least this isn’t one of those low-budget Westerns where viewers will be caught by surprise when the screen is filled with aging cowboys. The film’s title pretty much tells you what to expect.
More problematic than the veteran cast is a plot that seems to move along at a geriatric pace.
It takes 30 minutes for Sergio Cantu to round up his posse. And it isn’t exactly done with Yul Brynner / “The Magnificent Seven” flair.
Fortunately, the filmmakers don’t take the subject matter too seriously, setting aside plenty of time for humor.
Sometimes that works. Like a side hustle run by Walker and Fire Cloud. Sometimes is seems to add to the film’s slow pacing. Like when the posse debates whether or not to cut down Reeves when they find him hanging from a tree, his feet precariously balanced on a stool.
This marks the second Western from Mauser, following 2021’s “Lady Lawman.”
Craig Rainey as Walker, about to be asked to show off his shooting skills in The Oldest Posse (2023)
Michael David Burger Song as Samuel Grant, making light of his capture by a posse that includes his father in The Oldest Posse (2023)
Directed by:
Brett William Mauser
Cast:
Sergio Cantu … Marshal
Craig Rainey … Walker
Jaek Jacmenek … Grant
Christopher Henry … Foster
Carlos Leos … Reeves
Keekee Suki … Fire Cloud
Michael David Burger Song … Samuel Grant
Lisa Butala … Dunn
Denise Villarreal … Maggie Grant
Kenny Schreiber … Trevor
Ryan Jasso … F.M. Miller
Kasey Bass … Simone
Jason S. West … Baxter
James Mauser … Jim
Andrew S. Cortez … Jesse
Joey Venegas Jr. … Jonas
Runtime: 90 min.
Christopher Henry as Foster, a gunman turned preacher who picks up a gun again to join the marshal in The Oldest Posse (2023)
Carlos Leos as Reeves, questioning the way Samuel plans to split up his gang in The Oldest Posse (2023)
Memorable lines:
The marshal: “Are you wanted?”
Walker: “You talkin’ love or law?” Don’t guess it matters. Nobody’s tryin’ to shackle me either way.”
Foster: “That what you reckon you’re doin’, Grant? You doin’ God’s work by killin’ outlaws?”
Grant: “I don’t want to do God’s work. But he sure as hell isn’t doin’ it.”
Fire Cloud: “They call me Fire Cloud.”
Reeves: “Fire Cloud? You mean like smoke?”
Keekee Suki as Fire Cloud, the Indian guide the marshal hires to help track Samuel and his gang in The Oldest Posse (2023)
Denise Villarreal as Maggie Grant, insisting to see her son before he’s taking to Fort Grant, possibly to hang, in The Oldest Posse (2023)
Grant: “There’s an extra $20 there. Dig a second grave.”
Undertaker: “For who?”
Grant: “Time will tell.”
Samuel: “You spent all your time with outlaws. Maybe that’s why I became one. I wanted to be like them. Like the men that earned your respect. Like the men that were important enough for you to give your life to.”
Grant: “No, son, the fact of the matter is: You’re just pure evil.”
Lisa Butala as Dunn, a female member of the outlaw gang, delivering disturbing news to Samuel in The Oldest Posse (2023)
Keekee Suki as Fire Cloud, Sergio Cantu as the Marshal and Craig Rainey as Walker in The Oldest Posse (2023)
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