When 2016’s The Magnificent Seven came out, it was a great homage to its 1960 predecessor. The 2016 version managed to capture the allure of old Western films in the modern day, and it had a killer cast. Casting stars such as Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, and Vincent D’Onofrio didn’t detract or distract from the movie, it enhanced it. It was a great lineup that really amped up what turned out to be a great remake.
Unfortunately, Gunslingers (2025) is not that. While Gunslingers has a well-known cast, consisting of Nicolas Cage, Heather Graham, and Stephen Dorff, it feels more like the film forced in some familiar names that really do not fit the Western genre. It feels like a group of over-the-hill actors playing dress-up, and that may be construed as harsh, but I want to be honest. And while all acting is playing dress-up, the costume department here does not sell it as impressively as other Westerns.
GUNSLINGERS, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
That’s not to say there are no charms to this endeavor. Nicolas Cage has been doing what Nicolas Cage has wanted to do for the last ten years or so, and we love him for it. Like Jim Carrey, this man spent his career acting in some of the best movies of all time, so if he wants to be outrageous and participate in over-the-top performances, he deserves it. Cage was certainly the only one putting 120% into this project, and there’s a reason that his outfit stood out the most from the other drab, grey clothing – he’s meant to be the standout here.
Despite many significant criticisms, you should not completely dismiss this feature outing. This is not a small project — Gunslingers is distributed by Lionsgate and has some really cool action scenes. The shoot-outs look cool, but it is unfortunate that movies feel like they need to put a grey effect over their entire movie to convey hard times. Westerns are meant to have color – beautiful scenery, impressive outfits. There’s a way to showcase the hardships of the time without making your film ugly to look at.
in the western film GUNSLINGERS, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
As stated previously, it’s not a bad movie. Cage really steals the show and the film is worth viewing simply to see Cage live his best life in a Western. Tzi Ma is in it, and he’s likewise quite good, as always. The acting isn’t bad, and there are some great shoot-out scenes. On top of that, there are some really cool angles shot in this movie. Sure, there’s room for improvement, but if you’re looking for some cool shoot-out scenes, Gunslingers has it. Is it the best story? No. Does it look the prettiest? No. But it’s a decent Western that, despite all of its flaws, should be watched just for Cage alone. Personally, it wouldn’t be surprising if the director just told Cage to do whatever he wanted, and for that, you have a movie that people want to see just for that aspect alone.
Gunslingers will debut in select theaters and on VOD on April 11, 2025, courtesy of Lionsgate.
As stated previously, it's not a bad movie. Cage really steals the show and the film is worth viewing simply to see Cage live his best life in a Western. Tzi Ma is in it, and he's likewise quite good, as always. The acting isn't bad, and there are some great shoot-out scenes. On top of that, there are some really cool angles shot in this movie.
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