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Bald Knobber
USA 2017
produced by Michael Johnson (executive) for Bear Creek Productions
directed by Michael Johnson
starring Mel Barber, Angelina Sauber, Curtis Copeland, Keith Thurman, Bozana Cavar, Zack Davis, Dakota T. Jones, Austin Michael, Blake Walker, Chris Skillern, Michael Freeman, Dale Green, Robyn Koelling Hurst, Kristin Mothersbaugh, Eddie Wood, Lee Walker, Drake Stephens, Kara Jones, Timothy Brassi, Shaun Blair, Hoss Braden, Patrick McCrady, Tobin Smith, Larry Simpson, Wayne Massengale, Teri Austin, Clayton Curtis, Tom Wolf, Tina Cool Anderson, Lindsey Breeden, Jason Webb, Tyler Bryce, Mason Kirkland, Justin Sifford, Myranda Rose Zimmerebner, Kerry M. Richardson, Dana Embree, Samuel Stafford, Michael Lillard, Laura Fogle, Chris Sulzbach, Kyle Bridges, Jeanette Kuhlmann, Jacob Combs, Tony Wagner, Kevin Day, Fred Harshbarger, Danny Yancey, Noel McEwen, Ryan Sifford, Tony Williams, Archie Dunn, Randy Greer, Denny McQuire, Randy Freeman, Stan Budzyna, Richard Watson, Crystall Copeland, Rachel Parker, Jeffery Stringer, Jae McFerron, Larry Allred, David Jacobs, Bethany Mecke, Christian Michael Dober, Maddie Madson, Pamela Yancey, Brian Gillman, Scott Mueller, Todd Thornhill, Debbie Wood, Matt Smith, Somer Jones, Mary Jo Greer, Roy Jackson, Sophia Sattazahn, Martha M. Fredrickson, Rod Shelton, Clinton Caperton, Caleb Klinger, Stephen Neal
written by Michael Johnson, Curtis Copeland, Sean Murray
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Taney County, Missouri, the 1880s: With the Civil War already a few
years in the past, healing hasn't set in in this region in the Ozarks, as
the locals were suffering under a failing exonomy and high taxation on one
side, the lawless rule of bushwackers on the other, and a failing justice
system beyond that. This eventually proves too much for Nathaniel Kinney
(Mel Barber), a small time businessman and preacher by day, so he called
together the leaders of the county to form a secret group of vigilants to
fight lawlessness by night, wearing masks to ensure their anonymity. The
situation is so bad in the region, the group even gets its blessings from
Sheriff McHAffee (Michael Freeman). And at first, the group is a rousing
success, and seemingly brings lasting peace to the county, and even
inspires the neighbouring county to form its own vigilant gang. But of
course, with great power comes great temptation, and soon Kinney uses his
gang, which quickly becomes known as Baldknobbers, for personal
enrichment, the elimination of those who stand against him, and to settle
petty scores. The Baldknobbers soon become feared and hated amongst decent
folks as well as bushwackers, as they want to force allegiance on
everyone, and if they fail to succeed try to run whoever it is off their
land. Eventually, things have gotten to such a bad state that Sheriff
McHaffee revokes his support for Kinney and company, but he isn't big
enough anymore to be a threat for Kinney. Militias are formed to protect
honest farmers against the Baldknobbers, and soon things are no better
than back in the times of Civil War - which is why eventually, adjudant
general James Carson Jamison (Tom Wolf) is sent in to force both the
Baldknobbers and the militias to disband, threatening martial law
otherwise. But Kinney is granted 48 hours to organize the disbandment -
which gives both sides enough time to settle some old scores ... Epic
westerns based on true stories usually ring alarm bells in me, but Bald
Knobber gets it absolutely right as it stays away from feeding a
legend or forcing a message home via sledgehammer and is neither
revisionist nor post-modernist, instead tells the story in a very
realistic way while not forgetting to create a tense story arc to keep the
audience interested beginning to end, dragging them into a story without
real heroes or villains where the line between right and wrong is usually
blurred and the law is a matter of interpretation. Add to that a subtle
directorial effort that makes the most out of its scenery, and a very
solid ensemble cast, and you've got yourself rather awesome genre
entertainment.
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review © by Mike Haberfelner
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Robots and rats,
demons and potholes, cuddly toys and shopping mall Santas,
love and death and everything in between,
Tales to Chill Your Bones to is all of that.
Tales to Chill Your Bones to -
a collection of short stories and mini-plays ranging from the horrific to the darkly humourous,
from the post-apocalyptic to the weirdly romantic,
tales that will give you a chill and maybe a chuckle,
all thought up by the twisted mind of screenwriter and film reviewer Michael Haberfelner.
Tales to Chill Your Bones to
the new anthology by Michael Haberfelner
Out now from Amazon!!! |
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