In a lawless frontier town, notorious outlaw Bill Creed rules with an iron fist and a twisted sense of justice. But his reign is about to be challenged by Ryder Calloway, a hardened bounty hunter with a quiet demeanour and a deadly aim.

Review by Julie C. Sheppard:

The title of this riveting short – – Ryder Calloway and the Bounty for Bill Creed – – immediately establishes a western tone. The film’s angle is resonant of the iconic phrase, “there’s not enough room in this town for the two of us” – – the narrative pits two strong characters against one another without hesitation. Tension between the evil outlaw and the courageous bounty hunter is immediate and gets more intense as their interchange continues. The outlaw’s sidekick adds to the tension – – a repulsive character, raping women without a second thought.

The location and props have all the trappings of a classic frontier tale – – the piece is set in a rickety wood saloon with flickering candlelight, and a sly, villainous face appears on yellowed ransom signs hanging on the dusty walls. As in many a barroom scene, the fight choreography is impressive, as is the resulting gore. Remarkable sound design engulfs the piece with atmospheric nuggets, such as heavy footsteps on the creaky floors, horses neighing, women screaming, gunshots, slow-paced harmonica, and the repeated use of a vibraslap to emulate a rattlesnake. 

The language of all the characters is on theme, with the use of “mister”, “mighty handsome”, “dead meat”, “tougher than a pair of old boots” and “mean enough to hunt bears with a hickory switch”. Even the onscreen text effectively uses wild west fonts.  

One of the most satisfying themes of westerns is that justice, however violent, is often served. View this entertaining film and you will discover whether or not there is indeed “enough room in this town for the two of us”.