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The Showdown is the kind of film you used to come across all too often in the age of the video store, the bottom shelf cornerstone that was always left untouched. There is nothing about this film that impresses, but rather plenty that disappoints. Here is a western woefully undone by its low-budget approach. Most will agree with me when I say the best westerns, the grittiest, most memorable ones were shot on film. Showdown looks like it's shot on HD, though the lack of clarity in some scenes makes me wonder if it wasn’t shot on a digital prosumer camera. There’s nothing about the film that immediately stands out or draws you in. Rather, you are faced with 90-odd minutes of rooting for the film to get better, to pick up or impress in some satisfying way, big or small.

Instead, you are rewarded with a half-baked derivative story,...