Customer Reviews

Purgatory [VHS]

5 star:		(81)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I am not a huge fan of Western movies but I decided to watch Purgatory because there was nothing else on TV and it was better than doing the housework that was for sure! Boy am I glad I gave the housework a miss! What an excellent film! It wasn't just a western but it was a love story, a mystery, a thriller, a bit of horror and lots of good quality acting. The storyline was fairly simple. A group of rowdy cowboys come across a small town called Refuge and they think that their luck is in. It's run by a Sheriff who doesn't tote a gun, and the locals are wary of trouble to the point of paranoia. Enter Sonny portrayed by the delicious young Brad Rowe as an idealistic young cowboy who is the first to realise that the town of Refuge isn't quite what it seems. There are familiar faces in the town, faces that have been dead for many years and they're all pretending to be people that they aren't. Sonny goes looking for the truth and in doing so falls in love with Rose a Refuge local played by newcomer Amelia Heinle. In order to save Rose from the outlaws he has been travelling with Sonny must take on a band of vicious men, and make Wild Bill Hickok, Sam Shepherd at his best, pick up his guns once more even though it means a fate worse than death for him. This is a great film, with a great storyline that is made even better by a strong cast of actors. Look out for Donnie Wahlberg who plays Deputy Glen/Billy The Kid, he's an absolute cutie-pie! It's not too graphic in the horror department so those who are squeamish can watch it without too much hiding behind pillows, and it has enough suspense for those who want a film with a little bit of a bite here and there. All in all a really good film, and a western at that!!

While the above information states the year 1999 for a release date, I believe that date is only for the release to video. I swear I saw this movie a year or two before then. Also, this movie is a TNT original, and I don't think it was ever in the theaters. But let me clarify, it could have done very well at theaters. This movie does not come across as 'made for television'. In fact, it is better than 95% of the movies currently on the big screen. I should state that, like many others here, I am not a big fan of westerns, and movies with religious undercurrents generally turn me right off. Thus, when my girlfriend wanted to watch this when it was first shown on TNT one night, I was not too excited by the idea. About 15 minutes into the film, my mind was totally changed and I was absolutely riveted to the screen. I was stunned by the subtle-but-immediate effect this movie was having on me. If my house would have started on fire, I don't think I'd have noticed.

This movie is pretty much impossible to categorize. It looks and feels like a western, but it's not. It also feels a bit like sci-fi, but it's not. Its message is deep and profound, but easy to understand instinctively. I've seen hundreds of movies, but I've never seen casting done this well before. All characters come across beautifully. This is not a huge-budget movie, Hollywood style, but you'll never notice the difference. I'm sure a large amount of money was spent, but this movie makes it due to stellar storytelling, great acting and wonderful direction, not big special effects. A powerful movie that can be enjoyed by the whole family. No matter how old you are when you first see it, the story is likely to haunt you for years to come. A highly, highly recommended film.

When a few outlaws (led by Eric Roberts and Peter Stormare) enter upon a mysterious town, they get more than they bargained for in Purgatory: an intriguing allegory made for cable channel TNT. All the legendary names of the Wild West, including Billy the Kid (Donnie Wahlberg), Wild Bill (Sam Shepard), and Doc Holiday (Randy Quaid); all of whom attempting to redeem their souls for the acts committed while they were alive. Naturally, a conflict ensues, with the townsfolk reluctantly resorting to the violent means they have been trying to erase. Purgatory packs enough action for western enthusiasts, even though it may come off as too preachy for some, and while it wears thin towards the end, it still manages to be solid entertainment with an intriguing idea. If you dig westerns with a twist on redemption, check out Purgatory.

If Rod Serling had written a Western, he might have come up with Purgatory. I won't describe the plot, which previous reviewers have already done, but let me say that I always feel my spirit soar at the end of this movie. It also has one of the most beautifully choreographed gunfights you'll ever see, and one of the most memorable lines: 'The Almighty may be strict, but He ain't blind.'

This movie is a keeper. I already had it in VHS format, but bought the DVD to have it in a more permanent media.

As you can see from the past reviews, nobody has scored it less than 5 stars. What an amazing movie! It's too bad this didn't go to theatres first so it could be enjoyed on the big screen. It definately deserves a transfer to DVD with all the extras so hopefully that will be coming soon. I'm very picky about the westerns that I'll watch since a good one so rarely comes along these days. But Purgatory is great! Like others have said, it's a western with twists and surprises like no other before it. And for "Hollywood" or TNT as the case may be, to put out a movie with a moral or faith based message, well that's just very incredible and very welcome considering the messages that are conveyed in most movies today. Purgatory is 5 stars and then some. And at this price, you can't go wrong!

I stumbled upon this movie quite by accident at this website, and I read the customer's reveiws. Because everyone loved it so much and I, myself, liked Tombstone and young guns...I gave it a try. If you aren't big on westerns, but like the historical figures...Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Wild Bill Hickock, etc, then you will love this one. I'm not a John Wayne watcher, but the cast drew my attention. They played the characters just as I would have imagined them . The cool part about this film is that there's a major twist on the Tombstone type of theme...I won't give it away, but keep in mind the title of the film. I just loved the plot and twists to an old story, and I think it's a great film that both MEN AND WOMEN will sit down to and enjoy. Definetly worth the few bucks!

[...]I simply had to add my name to the growing list of people who found this western to be something quite special. Three things are guaranteed if you watch this film........1) you don't have to like westerns......2) the story will have you rivetted......and lastly, you will want to see it again, or I'll eat my spurs. I won't repeat the overview of the story which everyone has been so careful in outlining, as a careless word could ruin the superb surprises which it has in store. This film is perfect in so many departments with the acting coming top of the list. The wests most notorious gunmen are portrayed brilliantly by a cast who obviously believed in this film's message. The music is truly haunting and memorable, and in the tradition of all great westerns (which is the catagory where this belongs) there is a spectacular gunfight at the end, the build-up to which is truly masterful. So if you want a movie which isn't full of cliche's and has a story that will have you glued to your screen as it unfolds, then they don't come any better than this................I find it hard to believe that I've just been talking about a TV movie!!!

PURGATORY in a western setting! It is a mind boggling concept.
And what a great way to think of that might have happened to our "bad boys".

Take a kid [Brad Rowe] who is not wholly "bad", still with a touch of innocence to slowly stumble onto what might be happening in the town of Refuge.

Eric Roberts made a great "Blackjack", a devil driven badass who was arrogant enough to think he can rule and destroy Refuge.
What a shock to find out was a "Hell" waiting for him. Loved that scene.

It didn't take long to realize that Randy Quaid was "Doc Holliday" but I couldn't place the others until they were pointed out to me.

Sam Shepard as "Wild Bill Hickock" wanting only peace to finish his stay in Refuge was a wonderful, powerful character. Especially when he faced down the knife throwers. What retribution!
I loved the use of an Indian guarding the gates to Refuge and his removal of the bodies. He was a great character.

The mix of spiritualism with the western setting and including falling in love, the driving force of the universe, is what helped to make this a great movie. Not the run of the mill Hollywood tripe!

We get the feeling that God does love his creatures and is willing to forgive if we put forth the effort to ask for forgiveness. And that He does reward man's acts of heroism put forth for those that can't defend themselves.

This DVD is well worth the money and can be enjoyed by all.
DEFINITELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -- a keeper of the highest degree!
Actually an 8 + rating.

I think this will come to be considered the last mature, truly great western of the century of westerns. I've heard this described both as a "metaphysical" western and as a morality play. Maybe so, the really great westerns have always been about the eternal sruggle between good and evil, right and wrong. This film just carries it to a higher plane.

I like the concept of men who walked the razor edge between Good and Bad being allowed one more chance to toe the line. There's alot about the character of Bill Hickok, Jesse James, Doc Holliday, and Billy the Kid that is not black and white- there's alot of gray.

But, what happens when outside evil comes to Purgatory and you've sworn off violence forever? It must take a special kind of soul to disobey the Creator, even if it for a good cause, even when you know it means being cast into Hell....
I still get chills from that closing line, "The Creator may be hard, but He ain't blind."

By the way, once he gets going, Quaid steals the show as Doc Holliday.

PURGATORY is an old fashioned western----right out of the Twilight Zone. With its imaginative script, good pacing and excellent cast, this made for cable movie is quite good and entertaining. A bunch of bad guys led by supreme baddie Eric Roberts and Peter Stormare find themselves in the town of Refuge, a quaint little town where the sheriff doesn't wear a gun and there's no cussing on the streets. We soon find out there's more to Refuge than meets the eye and the movie climaxes with a big gun fight to rival the best. Along with Roberts and Stormare, the cast is perfect: Sam Shepard, the laconic sheriff; Randy Quaid, the kindly doc; singer John David Souther as the general storekeeper; Donnie Wahlberg as the somewhat feisty deputy; Amelia Heinle as the lovely Rose; and Brad Rowe as the naive member of the bad guys. It's quite different and should appeal to both fans of westerns and ghost stories.