Summary
- Young Guns is an underrated Western film that was a phenomenon in the ’80s but has been largely forgotten by modern audiences.
- The film features a talented cast of young actors who were part of the legendary 1980s Brat Pack, adding to its appeal.
- Young Guns offers a unique blend of historical accuracy and modern storytelling, making it a film that deserves a second look.
When Hollywood decided to make Young Guns in 1988, it was the last real attempt at making Westerns work. However, the film, which featured some of the best young actors of their generation, is one of the most underrated hits of the decade. Westerns continue to pop up now and again with theatrical releases, but Young Guns continues to hold up over 35 years later with the modern films in the genre released today.
The film was a phenomenon that has been largely forgotten by modern audiences. However, it is a movie worth seeking out, not just because it shows where Westerns actually ended up but also how a new generation could take the genre and make it their own.
The Death of Westerns in the ’80s
The 1950s were the time for Westerns. They were what superhero movies have been for the past ten years. A seemingly unstoppable juggernaut but a fad nonetheless. The market was saturated, and the bubble had to burst. However, it had a few last gasps in the ’60s and a slow trickle into the ’70s.
Even though the occasional Westerns were still being made, the ’80s were home to horror and teen drama. New stars were rising into prominence, and they were not exactly trying to emulate massive icons like Clint Eastwood or John Wayne. In fact, many of the young stars may not have even seen some of the lesser-known Western stars of the ’50s and ’60s. However, the idea of ensemble films made the 1980s so much fun for film. This was something that could elevate even the most underrated concepts into blockbuster hits. This was true for Young Guns and the dying Western.
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Young Guns and Ensemble ’80s Stars
The group of young male actors brought on to Young Guns was an offshoot of the legendary 1980s Brat Pack. This was a group of actors who were, often by chance, cast together in films and were known to pal around with each other off-camera. Young Guns took some of the Brat Pack and added even more actors to the fray. These included Keifer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Lou Diamond Phillips, Dermot Mulroney, and Casey Siemaszko. It is a who’s who of young male stars.
The fact is that, being a Western, the film needed to be stacked with actors that young people would pay to see in theaters. The few older actors involved included Terrance Stamp and Jack Palance, both of whom were seasoned veterans by that point.
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Young Guns follows some very real-life figures, including Billy “The Kid” Bonney, as they seek to protect a ranch and then find revenge against a group of people they believe deserve punishment for their crimes. The group is known as The Regulators, who dish out frontier justice after being deputized. Though filled with a cast of characters plucked from history, the story often resembles a modern-day saga. The actors have that modern feel, as you don’t see Billy “The Kid” but instead see Emilio Estevez, although he is an absolute joy to watch.
Young Guns did spawn a sequel, although not every actor returned. However, Young Guns was a beautiful send-off for a genre that needed a chance to cool off before becoming the occasional prestige picture going forward.
Young Guns Is Underrated Fun
Here’s the thing: Young Guns is only an underrated Western now. When it was released in 1988, it made a hell of a splash. The fact that it has not necessarily stood the test of time is not due to a lack of plot, character, or the abilities of the actors themselves. It is simply a film that people love and remember or completely forget.
The interesting part of Young Guns that people don’t seem to remember is that the cast can be split nearly down the middle regarding who is still relevant and who has faded into relative obscurity. Keifer Sutherland appears to have kept a steady career, while Estevez and Sheen have either fallen out of favor or off the map. Even Lou Diamond Phillips, who wants to return for Young Guns 3, no longer has the luster he once had and is often relegated to B-movies or low-quality TV appearances. In addition, Dermot Mulroney has somewhat flourished, with starring roles in film and TV that include Anyone But You and Scream VI (not the breakout star people expected).
Young Guns has become an underrated movie simply because the film, many of its stars, and its genre are no longer talked about. Audiences don’t reminisce about the great Westerns of their childhood or post online about the continued relevance of Lou Diamond Phillips. Young Guns is a snapshot of a specific time when people still went to the theaters, and the actors alone were enough to bring in audiences.
When audiences think of ’80s movies, the works of John Hughes and Ivan Reitman may come to mind. Comedies, teen angst, and slasher horror are all iconic parts of the decade. Most fans rarely think about the ways in which Young Guns was a more accurate portrayal of historical events compared to many films of the time. It is not being discussed in graduate film courses and rising to the top of streaming algorithms. This is too bad because this underrated gem deserves a second look. Young Guns is available to stream on Prime Video.
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