User Reviews

In a small American town called Moody River, there is a community of ex-cons who have gone straight and are trying to make an honest living by working on their farm. Unfortunately for them, the local authorities, led by prosecutor Eli Starke (Brion James), are corrupt and want to own their land, so they keep attacking and sabotaging them, trying to drive them away. Fortunately for them, Reno Raines is passing through and he decides to stay for a while and protect them. Kind of a variation on the "Magnificent Seven" theme (not the "seven" part, but the terrorizing of a small community), "Moody River"'s strongest card is, theoretically, the presence of B-movie icon Brion James in the kind of role he was perfect for - i.e., the villain. However, James is strangely subdued this time. There are a couple of pretty good fights (and Bobby seems to be joining in a lot more now), and an extremely charming performance by Jane Rogers as a kind-hearted newspaperwoman. (**)