The Outsider (I) (2019) User Reviews

Well, the filmmakers tried hard...

[Wizard-8 · 5/10 · 6 October 2019]

In recent years there have been in the direct to DVD world a number of westerns made on very low budgets. This is one of them, and I think that despite it having a number of flaws, it is a touch above most other modern low budget westerns. Now, it IS very cheaply made, but I could see that the filmmakers tried very hard to hide this fact, such as with the use of limited lighting in a number of sequences. And they did spend some money when it counted, such as with the use of a rain machine in a few sequences, which does add some atmosphere. The filmmakers were also able to with the limited funds generate a few decent scenes of action and/or suspense.

However, these points of merit only take the movie so far. While the movie is atmospheric, it is undeniably VERY slow to unfold, made worse that the core of the story is simply a rehash of revenge westerns from the past. A quicker pace would have helped things considerably. Also, the movie is hurt by the fact that the central protagonist (played by Jon Foo) doesn't give a particularly good or engaging performance. There are also a few badly directed sequences that will momentarily puzzle viewers as to what exactly is happening in front of them, or what just happened moments before.

Despite these and other flaws, I admit that I wasn't at any time BORED by the movie, and while I may not be giving the overall results a passing grade, I do think that under the low budget circumstances, the filmmakers deserve an "A" for effort.

One last note, this one to fans of Danny Trejo: He only shows up for a couple of minutes.

Silly Movie

[carlosferro36 · 4/10 · 30 June 2019]

People who rate this movie above 5 haven't watch any Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson....

Not bad for a B Western

[jrnabors · 5/10 · 29 December 2019]

The streaming services and Wal-Mart's movie section have brought back the "B" Western. You know, one that's not going to win any Oscars, but is still going to be entertaining. This one fills the bill quite nicely. Trace Adkins has been in several of these, but it was Flanery that in my opinion held the movie together once he decides to team up with the Chinese railroad worker, with acting that's actually good enough for a big budget Western, not that they make those anymore.

Not sure we watched the same movie.

[cjfarley-65939 · 2/10 · 22 June 2019]

Not sure where the 8,9,and 10 star reviews came from. Trace Adkins seemed to be trying to channel Sam Elliot. The guy playing the villain pretty much chewed the scenery. The hero wasn't developed at all. The action was too little and was either filmed so close or so dark you couldn't see what was happening. Danny Trejo usually brings some life to the screen, he was nice and menacing, but dialogue sounded like he was reading it off cue cards. Flanery was probably the best part of the movie, but his character wasn't really developed either. There were some really strange decisions about what to film. Why closeups of people chewing food?

Ain't no cowboys riding across your screen any more...

[wilsp-25512 · 3/10 · 16 September 2019]

It's too bad really. Trace Atkins is so much better than this dark, dank poorly written, pathetically acted 'old west' saga. What plot there is came from a half dozen movies past. Everything from KungFu to Bonanza. (You'll recognize them.) Add this weakness to fact the entire presentation takes place at night and the result is a half baked struggling concoction that's never going to rise past sad. The three stars I gave it are: one for Trace, one for Danny and one for the horses! Save the popcorn and two hours of your life. Miss this one.

A "B- Movie" at best.

[lombligo2003 · 2/10 · 24 June 2019]

Eh, the acting and scenes are pretty bland or shall I say "flat". No way near a classic Spaghetti Western like Sergio Leone's old westerns (as some ridiculous article tried to point out). Hell no! Now those were movies. This movie is lacking emotion, it tries to be dramatic, but it just doesn't connect with you, you just don't feel it. Like most movies coming out today, that are either straight to DVD or just blah. And the two lead actors (husband and wife) who are indeed Asian, look more latin or American Indian than anything else. Lol.

Unconventional western, that's why most people hate it

[videogamenews · 7/10 · 27 April 2022]

There's no bank heist or cowboys Vs indians in this movie, just a very tragic story about a chinese man (yes, a chinese man) seeking revenge. This is why most people hate The Outsider: because it offers nothing they were expecting after they read "western".

If you're just looking for a nice film, you'll find an interesting plot that switches gears about halfway through, so much that even the protagonist is not the same anymore. Looking at the cast Foo, Adkins and Flanery deliver good performances, while Trejo is in there for 5 minutes and quickly forgotten.

It takes an open mind to appreciate everything: if you're not too hardcore about westerns, you're gonna like this movie.

A Disgrace to The Genre of Western

[akelly-68556 · 1/10 · 16 September 2019]

The only good thing about this movie was getting to watch Jon Foo. Even still I'm sadden and confused why he would lend his talents to this movie. Wishful Thinking maybe on Foo's part. This movie is a disgrace to the Movie Genre of Western.

A decent watch

[dworldeater · 6/10 · 13 January 2021]

The Outsider is not the best movie by any means, but I was reasonably entertained by this B western. The sheriff's rotten spoiled brat son ticked off the wrong Chinese railroad worker. He raped and killed his wife (who was pregnant with an unborn child). This leads him on a trail of revenge where he uses his Kung Fu skills to break some arms and bust some heads. Trace Adkins was the father of this no good son, that he was sworn to protect against his better judgement. Trace Adkins is no Clint Eastwood or Sam Elliott, but I found him to be a suitable and likeable lead here. Danny Trejo appears here briefly and is gone just as quickly. He really didn't add anything to this and his performance shows he was just here for another paycheck. There are a million ways this could be better. I'm sure a bigger budget and more time to film would probably be the answer. Still, I did enjoy this and if your expectations are not super high, The Outsider is a decent enough watch.

Poor acting, crap story and action.

[rev937 · 1/10 · 15 June 2019]

It's like other tons of low-budget westerns. 1 star is fine for this movie. Poor acting, poor story and no action at all and the movie shooting is not so good also.

Intriguing movie

[bbolicek · 8/10 · 4 December 2020]

Ignore the low ratings. Some folks aren't happy unless they are putting down something.

Great acting, fun action and a great moral story. It's a true good versus bad, morality verus evil movie. Conflict within a father trying to protect and save his son, as many people suffer due to the father's love for his son. The father outwardly despises his son, not in reality loves his son and wishes he'd find God.

A worthwhile movie.

You can't tell me one man did all that

[nogodnomasters · 6/10 · 28 June 2019]

This is a formula film and you know pretty much the entire plot after the first 10 minutes. James Walker (Kaiwi Lyman) is not the most honorable man. His father Marshall Johnny Walker in black (Trace Adkins) claims he is "beyond saving." James messes with the wrong Chinese railroad worker (Jon Foo) creating a script built upon revenge by a one-man wrecking machine.

If you like the tough talk and with a vigilante plot laced with a little humor and bad acting, this is it. Does Trace ever wear anything but black in films?

Guide: F-word. Rape. Male butt nudity.

Poor acting, director and just all and all a slow ride.

[heavyriginc · 3/10 · 22 September 2019]

Not worth the hour and a half...

Too dark and writing is not good at all.

Is this a movie? Really?

[magicdustenterprises · 1/10 · 22 September 2019]

I don't know what this is. Whoever this director is needs to be banned from making any movies in the future. Also, it looks like there's a lot of fake review on here who reviewed this title around June 2019 with 10 stars raising the average to 6.1 to deceive people into watching it. Please do not watch it.

Dark....For The Wrong Reason!

[godsmessenger · 5/10 · 21 September 2019]

This movie is POORLY directed. TOOOO much of the movie is black, dark....as in "Not Enough Light"!!! Too many of the scenes (frames) are spend entirely too much "filler time" on any particular frame. Add more light to the dark scenes move from one scene a bit faster than 5 minutes and it "may" be a better film.

Worse movie I've seen in years! Terrible acting, all scenes done in dark, rainy with little or no visibility. Plot is same old story done a million times. Don't waste your

[benc7060 · 1/10 · 21 September 2019]

Terrible in every way. Worse movie I've seen in years. An insult to acting and film making!

Goofs

[oliverconst-71990 · 1 December 2019]

The origami crane on the grave are japanese tradition not Chinese. Also in the church, Christianity doesn't use incense to carry prayers to heaven.

Very dark but worth watching!

[emmanueld-1 · 7/10 · 22 September 2019]

One of those modern western which I find slow. Characters are well developed, good vs evil with a bit of Chinese martial art to add a bit of modern flavor to this modern age western. Very dark!

A bad film

[hamza777123 · 2/10 · 6 July 2019]

Bad scenario And consumption story do not know why these high ratings are

VIEWS ON FILM review of The Outsider

[burlesonjesse5 · 6/10 · 15 August 2019]

If John Wick, The Revenant, or 2002's Road to Perdition were made into sooty Western dramas, the result would be 2019's The Outsider. Yup, "Outsider" is a mean-spirited, retribution pic and it's my latest review.

Country singer Trace Adkins doing his best Jeff Bridges impersonation, stars in "Outsider". He plays a down at heel Marshal with slight morals. Trace is no Laurence Olivier but he's intimidatingly tall and possesses the perfect acting voice for a flick about the felonious Old West. Sean Patrick Flanery plays a felon tracker (in "Outsider") named Chris King. Flanery channels his inner Russell Crowe with gruff, chuff, and scruff in tote.

In The Outsider, a railroad worker of oriental descent (Jon Foo as Jing Phang) seeks vengeance to any above the law lawman who murdered and abused his wife. "Outsider's" setting feels like the late 1800's, there's plenty of vests and spurs, almost everyone has a mean streak, and at least one character cockily twirls a gun (never seen that before, just kidding).

"Outsider" is rooted in close-ups, Dutch angles, feeble action set-ups, and adult motifs (there's an upsetting rape scene and plenty of roughed up sex involved). It's a jet black Western in cinematography and theme and I wish I had a better view of what was going on (maybe it was my old beat-up flat screen, who knows).

Dimness, obscure, and ribald tropes aside, The Outsider has a few intense moments and great supporting work from its antagonist (Kaiwi Lyman as corrupt sheriff James Walker). Still, the film feels a little anti-climatic, a little jaded, and blase blase in its final approach. It's the type of gunfighter endeavor where guys like the late Gary Cooper, the late Charles Bronson, and the late John Wayne would view it and confidently say, "hold my beer". Rating: 2 and a half stars.

DANNY TREJO,S CHARITY

[vanmust · 1/10 · 19 June 2019]

Jesus Christ ......all the dialogues are western tough wannabe cliches ..not one original word ...as for the chinese couple ...the two chicanos are hardly convincing.....if Danny Trejo helped them for a few seconds out of charity so would Chucky Chan....after all he is very self sarcastic in the end of all his movies ..I bet he would have helped them for nothing....the only guy who fits his role is the wisel son.....reminds me of the stalker of Whitney Huston in "The Boduguard"....the fat marshal is asking for somebody to put him out of his misery........and what,s with the husky voice....did they use Sam Elliot recordings without his consent?

Awesome Western

[mannydume · 10/10 · 15 June 2019]

Trace Adkins, Jon Foo and the whole cast did a great job. The casting was outstanding, highly recommend The Outsider, looking forward to the next production. They just keep on getting better and better.

Low Budget Stinker!

[bud2mac_03 · 3/10 · 25 September 2019]

Need I say more? Just a waste of time in my opinion

Sad waste of their and my time..

[shane013a-1 · 2/10 · 2 October 2019]

As aptly put by wilsp-25512, this could have been so much with the talent. Instead the whole film rides aimlessly in the dark and ends up by stopping. No way would I give it a recommendation except of course, don't bother!

Naive movie

[qqml · 4/10 · 22 September 2019]

Cliche story. Naive plot. BTW, they are not even Chinese.