Fun slasher films dominated the b-movie scape throughout the 70s and 80s. But like most things profitable they were run into the ground. People forget that there were zero mainstream slasher films in the nineties until Scream (1996) revitalized the genre. Without that film we wouldn't have the constant barrage of horror films we see today.
In exactly the same way, b-westerns were the shit during the 60's and 70's. From Sergio Leone to the Django films, Sartana, Death Rides a Horse to Johnny Yuma this genre is lost art. It gave weird looking actors leading roles and violent filmmakers a chance to run wild. Who wouldn't want to see a movie called The Ugly Ones, or They call me Hallelujah or Heads You Die ... Tails I kill You!
In a time before indie-filmaking, b-westerns were the first true indie movies. You could make profit on weird flicks with off-kilter sensibilities. And we need that to come back. Jonah Hex could have heralded a return to the days of fun b-westerns but instead it was a colossal failure.
It's a shame.
A horse with a gatling gun on it? Badass.
John Malkovich blows up pioneers while sipping absinthe? Badass.
Weird-ass western about a guy with a fucked up face fucking up people who fucked up his family with an 80 million dollar budget? Badass.
Jonah Hex? Ass Bad.
I heard equally bad things about Wild Wild West eleven years ago. I ignored them all. And had to see for myself. Josh Brolin is cool and Megan Fox is hot but you could say the same about Will Smith and Salma Hayek in 1999.
I love b-westerns. I love steam-punk. There's a movie to be made here. Why does Wild Wild Jonah West Hex have to suck so incredibly bad?
The great tragedy is we may never have a modern day Lee Van Cleef (sorry michael madsen and / or bronson pinchot).
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