In the early 1900s, an aging Wyatt Earp (Val Kilmer) sits down with a newspaper reporter to tell him the story behind the Buntline Specials — four specially made Colt revolvers presented to himself, Bat Masterson, Charlie Bassett and Bill Tilghman.

The story begins in Dodge City. A vicious killer named “Spike” Kenedy is gunning for the judge. He fires four shots into the judge’s home. He winds up killing pretty actress Dora Hand instead.

Turns out Wyatt was quite fond of Ms. Hand. He’s determined to bring the killer to justice. So he rides out seeking revenge, with Charlie and Bat by his side. They pick up Tilghman to help with track the killer.

And they face two obstacles. The judge has threatened to send a posse after them if they aren’t back in three days. And “Spike” Kenedy’s dad (Trace Adkins as Miflin Kenedy) is a rich and powerful man in these here parts.

Shawn Roberts as Wyatt Earp in Wyatt Earp’s Revenge (2012)

Val Kilmer as Wyatt Earp in Wyatt Earp’s Revenge (2012)

Review:

Kilmer and Adkins get top billing, but the former is basically a narrator and we don’t meet the latter until the final 20 minutes of the film.

Shawn Roberts plays young Wyatt, former American Idol runner-up Diana DeGarmo is Dora, and Daniel Booko plays “Spike,” a killer who asks his prey to pick a number between 1 and 10, as though there’s some hope for survival, then guns them down anyway.

Booko steals the show, and there’s also a deliciously sadistic performance by Wilson Bethel as whiskey-swilling dentist Doc Holliday.

The all-star lawmen concept is a bit difficult to swallow, Kilmer’s narration about not killing in revenge rings awfully hollow. And the ending is a confusing mess — did Spike get hauled back to jail or did he die on his daddy’s ranch?

This film is based on a real incident in which an actress named Dora Hand was accidentally killed by someone gunning for the mayor. “Spike” Kenedy was arrested, but acquitted.

Daniel Booko as Spike Kenedy in Wyatt Earp’s Revenge (2012)

Diana DeGarmo as Dora Hand in Wyatt Earp’s Revenge (2012)

Directed by:
Michael Feifer

Cast:
Val Kilmer … Wyatt Earp
Shawn Roberts … Young Wyatt
Matt Dallas … Bat Masterson
Daniel Booko …”Spike” Kenedy
Scott Whyte … Charlie Bassett
Steven Grayhm … Sam Kenedy
Levi Fiehler … Bill Tilghman
Trace Adkins … Miflin Kenedy
Diana DeGarmo … Dora Hand
Brian Groh … Confederate Jones
Martin Santander … Sanchez
Kaitlyn Black … Susie
Wes Brown … Ed
Mason Cook … Young Conrad
Lyle Kanouse .. Judge Hinkle
Caia Coley … Mrs. Kenedy

Runtime: 93 min.

Matt Dallas as Bat Masterson in Wyatt Earp’s Revenge (2012)

Scott Whyte as Charlie Bassett in Wyatt Earp’s Revenge (2012)

Memorable lines:

Miflin Kenedy: “You are my sons. I will protect you. But I will never forgive you.”

Wyatt to the newspaper reporter: “You have to understand the War Between the States. The war formed us, made us who we are. After killing your own cousins, your own brothers, killing strangers meant nothing.”

An aging Wyatt: “My father left us when we were young, but before he did, he said, ‘When you take someone’s life, you give us part of yours.’ That is the truth. I found out that on more than one occasion.”