The Red Jack Gang is on the loose in the Old West and looking to obtain some money through illicit means in director Darrell Mapson’s Western movie “Lost Outlaw.” The gang consists of the leader, Quinn (Darrell Mapson), his two younger brothers, Jack (David Novak) and Red (Ricky Bird Jr.), as well as new members Lucas (Claude Ball) and Alfonzo (Thomas DeLaCruz).
They quickly set upon an unsuspecting train with guns drawn and relieve it of its valuables. With their ill-gotten gains in their grubby little mitts, they disappear into the woods. It becomes clear that Alfonzo doesn’t get along with Quinn and Jack. During the night while the rest of the gang is sleeping, Alfonzo decides to split with not just share of the loot but everyone else’s as well—at least what is initially suspected (in reality Jack murdered Alfonzo and pocketed the funds himself).
So, members of the Red Jack Gang set their sights on a nearby town and learn of a local goldmine operated by some Chinese folks. After waylaying some more folks, the gang has a new potential source of income. They also procure the services of a couple of simpletons—Sal (Chad Homan) and Ennis (Earl S. Johnson).
Everything seems to be going the gang’s way until Lucas begins to hang out with a widowed rancher named Kate (Lisa Rentuor) and her two daughters, Sarah (Heather Marie Peterson) and Sadie (Shannon Sinclear). Lucas takes a particular liking to Sarah and her likewise to him.
After the ladies their Christian kindness he agrees to attend a church service with them which makes Lucas ponder his life and some of the questionable things he’s done, such as joining the Red Jack Gang. It is also revealed that the goldmine is actually on Kate’s property and the Chinese who were operating there were leasing it for prospecting purposes.
Other trouble arrives when a bounty hunter named Tate (Willy Ortlieb) pops up hot on the trail of the Red Jack Gang, which in turn is assisted by U.S. Marshall Daniels (Jeffrey Smith) in his endeavors. Will Lucas change his dastardly ways or meet a terrible fate at the hands of law enforcement or fellow criminals?
One of the first things that struck me was how it grew on me gradually, similar to how Lucas’s transformation doesn’t happen overnight. What I initially thought might be another hockey cowboy yarn eventually metamorphized into a fantastic tale of Old West redemption.
Although newer to the acting scene, Claude Ball did an admirable job of playing the conflicted character of Lucas. The other actors ranged from decent to very good and everyone pulled their weight and gave earnest performances.
Indeed, the entire production was quite charming and although there was some violence (a few gunfights and a couple of haymakers being thrown), the underlying message of changing one’s ways for the better despite living a wicked life is as timeless as the Holy Bible. Sal and Ennis provided much of the comedy, although there was some other laugh-inducing bits among gang members that I’m not entirely sure was intentional.
