Like what was said recently with 'Cowboys vs Dinosaurs', watched 'Cowboys and Vampires' knowing exactly what to expect, with the title (a dead giveaway off the bat) and premise (though the set up was interesting somewhat) the film has. Was expecting it to be ridiculous and not particularly well made. Part of me was hoping though when watching out of curiosity that it would have a little entertainment value and be a small guilty pleasure.
'Cowboys and Vampires' (aka 'Dead West') was more or less what was expected, it is ridiculous and not well made at all. Would also be lying if said it is a good film, it is a long way from that and doesn't have anywhere near enough to make it a guilty pleasure though not unwatchable. There are worse films around, of the genre and overall, and the film at least knows what it's trying to be, not leaving me bored, not insulting my intelligence and having glimpses of a story (the set up is neat and the film starts reasonably decently).
Angelica Celaya is the film's bright spot, being appropriately vampish. The scenery is okay and there is some jauntiness and eeriness in the music when it's memorable (too often it's not).
Sadly, 'Cowboys and Vampires' is drably shot, with it also looking disorganised, and throughout it's incoherently edited, making it difficult to decipher what's going on in particularly the more action-oriented scenes (too few and not exciting or suspenseful).
The rest of the acting is very bad, especially from the conflict that ranges from pantomimic to somnambulist and the male lead was pretty wooden. The characters though in all fairness are not that interesting or easy to get behind, thanks to sketchy development and stupid character behaviours. The effects, make-up etc. are amateurish at best.
Writing is rambling and juvenile, while the direction is fairly characterless and while there is more story than expected it's a ridiculous one as well with very little tension or suspense. Things get over-the-top at the end and the campy silliness is taken to extreme levels that it becomes far-fetched.
On the whole, have seen worse but a pretty lame film. 3/10 Bethany Cox
