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Reviews
Widow Maker (2005)
Very enjoyable short western
Widow Maker is 7 minutes and 40 seconds of pure enjoyment. From the exciting opening scene to the gripping climax and the surprising ending, it will keep you on the edge of your saddle. This film was created as an entry in the National Film Challenge of 2004 and is the ultimate in teamwork by many members of the San Francisco IndieClub. The team of 24 crew and 11 cast members (plus animals that had to be wrangled) had only 72 hours to write the script, do preproduction, shoot the scenes, and complete post-production. The script is a demanding western period piece, with a climatic duel that is reminiscent of High Noon. Overall production values were kept very high, which is truly remarkable, given the compact schedule and limited resources available. The direction and cinematography are excellent. It has a touch of melodrama with its drama, but the crisp battle between good and evil appeals to all audiences. Watch for the extraordinary shaving scene at the start of the movie, which is superbly directed and performed. This suspenseful and rewarding film is not to be missed.