Trigger Fast (1994)

Trigger Fast (1994) VHS coverCorbin Bernsen is Brent Mallick, a Northerner trying to gobble up ranches from Southerners who can’t pay their taxes after the Civil War.

Among the ranches he’s after is one belonging to the fetching Freida LaSalle (Walker Brandt). And Mallick has a henchman named Tring more than willing to do his dirty work.

Matters are complicated by the fact that Mallick’s younger brother Jeb is in love with Freida.

It’s also complicated by the arrival of some former Rebels determined to come to the ranchers’ defense.

They were dispatched to the area by former Confederate officer Jackson Hardin (Martin Sheen) to help a rancher named Neumann.

Finding Neumann dead at the hands of Mallick’s men, they rally around pretty Freida instead.

That group includes Dusty Fog (Christopher Atkins), the Ysabel Kid (Todd Jensen) and Miguel Rodriguez (James Van Helsen).

They might also get help from former friend Mark Counter (Gerard Christopher), a fast gun who’s signed on to work for Mallick before learning what he’s all about.

Christopher Atkins as Dusty Fog, coming to the defense of a pretty rancher named Freida LaSalle in Trigger Fast (1994)

Christopher Atkins as Dusty Fog, coming to the defense of a pretty rancher named Freida LaSalle in Trigger Fast (1994)

Todd Jensen as the Ysabel Kid, helping Dusty Fog battle a land grabber in Trigger Fast (1994)

Todd Jensen as the Ysabel Kid, helping Dusty Fog battle a land grabber in Trigger Fast (1994)

Review:

Marginally better than it’s companion piece, “Guns of Honor,” because the plot doesn’t seem quite as far fetched and a bit more time is spent on character development.

That said, this film was released first when, in truth, viewers would be much better served by beginning with “Guns of Honor” in order to understand the back story that has united Dusty and his companions.

And there are still head-scratching moments, like when Christopher’s character is whipped. The friends coming to his rescue untie him, then promptly place him face up in a pile of straw.

Did I mention that the whip wounds were all over his back? Ouch!

Bernsen makes for a decent villain. As in the companion piece, Sheen appears early on only to drop out of sight and never return.

Gerard Christopher as Mark Counter, who finds himself working for Mallick and pitted against old friends in Trigger Fast (1994)

Gerard Christopher as Mark Counter, who finds himself working for Mallick and pitted against old friends in Trigger Fast (1994)

Walker Brandt as Freida LaSalle, determined to hang onto her ranch in spite of Mallick in Trigger Fast (1994)

Walker Brandt as Freida LaSalle, determined to hang onto her ranch in spite of Mallick in Trigger Fast (1994)

Directed by:
David Lister

Cast:
Christopher Atkins … Dusty Fog
Todd Jensen … Ysabel Kid
Corbin Bernsen … Brent Mallick
Walker Brandt … Freida LaSalle
Gerard Christopher …Mark Counter
James Van Helsen … Miguel Rodriguez
Jeremy Crutchley … Jeb Mallick
Ron Smerczak … Sgt. Tring
Marcel van Heerden … Trooper Stone
Michael McCabe … Ebb
Martin Sheen … Jackson Hardin
Jurgen Prochnow … Jack Neumann
Ted Le Palt … Sheriff Ben

Runtime: 96 min.

Corbin Bernsen as Brent Mallick, the man at the heart of the land-grabbing trouble in Trigger Fast (1994)

Corbin Bernsen as Brent Mallick, the man at the heart of the land-grabbing trouble in Trigger Fast (1994)

Jeremy Crutchley as Jeb Mallick, trying to convince Freida to flee his brother's shadow in Trigger Fast (1994)

Jeremy Crutchley as Jeb Mallick, trying to convince Freida to flee his brother’s shadow in Trigger Fast (1994)

Memorable lines:

Jack Neumann: “The war is supposed to be over.”
Jackson Hardin: “The war is over. We just never counted on maggots like Mallick. But don’t worry, this madness won’t last forever.”

Freida LaSalle, her bath interrupted by three riders: “You’d better have a good reason for being here.”
Ysabel Kid, getting an eyeful of Freida: “Lady, you’re a good enough reason for any man.”

Brent Mallick: “You just cost me three good men.”
Mark Counter: “Then maybe they weren’t that good.”

Ysabel Kid: “Do you ever worry about me?”
Dusty Fog: “Only when you’re behind me.”

Dusty Fogg: “You know, a man ought to think real hard before he gambles with stakes he can’t afford to lose.”

Martin Sheen as Jackson Hardin, the rancher who sends reinforcements to Neumann in Trigger Fast (1994)

Jurgen Prochnow as Jack Neumann, the man willing to die to hold onto his land in Trigger Fast (1994)

Jurgen Prochnow as Jack Neumann, the man willing to die to hold onto his land in Trigger Fast (1994)

Ron Smerczak as Sgt. Tring, Mallick's main henchman, in Trigger Fast (1994)

Ron Smerczak as Sgt. Tring, Mallick’s main henchman, in Trigger Fast (1994)

Walker Brandt as Freida LaSalle has her bath interrupted by strangers in Trigger Fast (1994)

Walker Brandt as Freida LaSalle has her bath interrupted by strangers in Trigger Fast (1994)

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