Wayne C
This feminist Western anthology is unique. Coe's debut feature derives its horror from western themes. Cowboys and Indians but the Indians win. Sexual repression but the woman wins. wife and daughter decide whether their racist family man will pay for his ungodly activities, and a gun fighter who's afraid of blood. Audience expectation are playfully gamed a highly original storytelling celebration that's full of heart
Unlike the regressive UNFORGIVEN, where women are whores and disfigured, the black man is whipped and the white savior cleans up "black hats", Coe's is revisionist feminist.
With knowledge of the production, the picture suffered from bad editing and an incompetent producer who facilitated that butchery. Even so Coe's creation was immediately perceived by AMC and GENERAL CINEMAS as commercial and had regional distribution throughout the US. James & Brad both generously supported the picture which gave them the opportunity to play against type.
A real indie by an artist who had no Hollywood money or celebrity became Academy Ent. Highest grossing video the year of its release. Coe directed and produced WE HAVE YOUR KIDS, Alan Ng, 8/19 (same as Dune); kids in danger from coercion, crime & corruption at the top in NY state schools.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
05/18/23
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Audience Member
Saw this at an Independent film festival in Seattle. The entire audience thoroughly enjoyed it. The only thing this movie suffered from was piss poor marketing; it was so good and JEJ was fabulous. It's a movie about the telling of intriguing though somewhat unusual stories, but sadly marketed as, wait for it, a horror movie — a decision made by ppl that were crazy or stupid or stupid crazy. Ratings were based on reviews by those expecting a heart pumping horror film. Those of us that watched the movie without such a preconceived expectation were thoroughly entertained by it. Highly recommend.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/25/23
Full Review
Audience Member
IFC's top 10 horror Westerns, this highly original & Heartfelt debut is a Horror-Western-Anthology pulling inspiration from Hammer anthologies of the '50s and '60s. Grim Prairie Tales sports a striking cast, JAMES EARL JONES, BRAD DOURIF, WILLIAM ATHERTON, LISA EICHORN. GPT never condescends to drop Dracula in the desert, instead entertainingly inversing western themes. Cowboys and Indians but the Indians win, sexual aggression is revenged, bigots are judged by their wives and daughters, the gunfighter's afraid of blood; anti-macho (feminist themes) prevail. The Reporter praised GPT while Variety griped, "Cheesy and Vulgar". The film played all regions, was pick-of-the-week TVGUIDE, and #1 seller for video releaser ACADEMY ENT. GPT's budget was a tiny $600,000 at a time when $14.5 million, UNFORGIVEN, a reactionary western celebrating mutilating woman, whipping African Americans and executing black hats was praised by the industry and forced down the publics' throats.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
01/26/23
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Audience Member
Enjoyable anthology of horror tales from the wild west, shared by James Earl Jones and Brad Dourif trying to outdo and scare each other over a campfire.
Grim Prairie Tales was quite fun, with one tale especially standing out.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
02/27/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Two travellers share "scary" stories in the same vien of horror stories such as tales from the Crypt and Tales from the Hood. Anyways not scary at all, and nonsensical.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
02/15/23
Full Review
william s
Not memorable but watchable low budget fare.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
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