Is The Shootet The Big Country, Shane or The Searchers? No but it is a good Western. What makes it work is the bad guys. Kyle
Tapert ( a particularly nasty Randy Travis), and. Wealthy rancher Jerry Krants ( William Smith) and his gang. What makes.the Krants gang so bad is the sadistic pleasure they get out of beating prostitutes with whips ( including leading lady Wendy ( Valarie Wildman)). The biggest problem with the movie is the star. Michael Dudikoff (Michael Atherton). It is obvious he has no idea how to ride a horse ( a point several posters made), but he is not much of an actor. He was a low rent version of Chuck Norris in films like American Ninja. .Spoilers ahead ( although predictable: Does Michael end up with Wendy, defeat Kyle in a duel, and kill Jerry? Of course. But the bad guys are so nasty and Wendy is so likable, that despite Dudikoff and tge predictable outcome the movie is worth watching 7/10 stars.