RELEASED TO TV IN 1999 and directed by Uli Edel, "Purgatory" chronicles events circa 1888 when a gang of outlaws led by Blackjack Britton (Eric Roberts) holds up in a mysterious hidden town called Refuge where the inhabitants seem overly gracious and pacifistic. Respectful greenhorn Sonny (Brad Rowe) increasingly suspects something strange is happening. Sam Shepard plays the Sheriff, Donnie Wahlberg his deputy, Randy Quaid the doctor and JD Souther a shop-owner. Amelia Heinle and Shannon Kenny are on hand in the feminine department.Other than the action-packed opening, this is a town-bound Western. While you can pick-up the made-for-TV quality right away, the movie scores well in its intriguing premise and quality writing. There are fantastical elements akin to "Pale Rider" (1985) and "High Plains Drifter" (1973). The movie's pretty much on par with the former and superior to the latter IMHO due to the more engaging story and weighty subtext.THE FILM RUNS 1 hour, 34 minutes and was shot in Barstow and Burbank Studios, California. WRITER: Gordon T. Dawson.GRADE: BADDITIONAL COMMENTARY ***SPOILER ALERT*** (Don't read unless you've watched the movie).Some viewers misunderstood the premise of the movie. The town of Refuge isn't just for outlaws; it's the "last chance" for the "marginally good," as phrased in the movie; it evens says something like the inhabitants were plucked from the incorrigibly wicked. As such, the citizens (not visitors) have different identities and occupations than in their former lives. For instance, Billy the Kid is now Deputy Glen, not a gunfighter; and Dolly Sloan is now Ivy, not a prostitute or suffragette. Holliday was now Doc Woods, an M.D. and not a dentist, who wasn't skinny because he no longer has tuberculosis.Just the same, Jesses James was now a shop owner named Brooks and was no longer robbing trains. Some contend that James deserved immediate damnation because he was a notorious bank/train robber, but the movie implies that he was corrupted by the Civil War during his developing years which involved the bloody guerrilla warfare in Missouri/Kansas and therefore he is given a "last chance" in Refuge .As for the dubious chronology, Holliday might have been a relatively recent arrival and therefore the reference to "10 years" in regards to Hickok's death actually meant "about 10 years." So the events could be taking place in 1888 or even 1889.The movie suggests that Sonny was read-up on famous Western figures and so recognized clues to their real identities. He only suspected who they really were. And this was eventually verified as he increasingly discovers the supernatural nature of Refuge. In other words, it wasn't like he instantly recognized these individuals and was 100% sure of their semi-infamous identities based on dime-store novels.Lastly, some complain that the movie supports the questionable idea that shooting people makes you a candidate for eternal life. Actually, it advocates selfless bravery and commitment to justice: Blackjack & his gang proved that they were chronic thugs and a serious threat to others; taking a violent-if-necessary stand against them was the only answer since they were incurable. The best way to stop a bad person with a gun is via a good person with a gun.

This is a movie that needs to be watched more than once to understand where it is coming from. On the surface it is about former Gunslingers '" Wild" Bill Hickok, 'Billy The Kid', Jessie James, and 'Doc' Holliday living in a town called Refuge (which is really Purgatory) which lies between Heaven and Hell, waiting until the time The Lord calls them home ( to Heaven)., but in between then they must live on the straight and narrow, otherwise it is Hell. Against them is an outlaw led by 'Black Jack' Britton ( a particularly nasty Eric Roberts). But deeper than that it is about Sonny who falls in with the gang, but is no killer, and is the one who must make choices in life, which is to do what is right, or follow Britton straight to Hell ( which Britton admitted he was leading his men to). Spoilers Ahead: We first meet Sonny when the aging is robbing a Bank in Sweetwater, Oklahoma and he meets Dolly who is a card cheating woman, who asks him to "Don't let me die.", as she gets shot and dies in his arms. The gang ends up in a town called Refuge and Sonny meets Rose, and falls in love with her. He is very suspicious because there are no guns, or jails in the town, and because he could read ( he reads Dime Store Hovels)), and he believes he recognizes Hickok and James. Towards the end, he sees a stagecoach ride up to a Church ( where everyone must go at night), and out pops Dolly. He learns the truth about Refuge, including the fact that Rose is really Betty McCullough who was hanged for murdering her father who raped for for 7 years. He also learns that Britton and the the gang will burn the town down so he stands up to face them alone, to prevent Rose from going to Hell. "Wild Bill" who has 5 hours until he goes to Heaven realizes that Sonny is right. "He is willing to die to save the woman he loves. I have spent 10 years as Sheriff like I did my entire life." He and then the others then join him, and defeat the gang. However, Sonny ends up dying saving Rose from his evil uncle. At the very end, and Indian comes by puts Britton and the others on a horse and sends their souls to Hell. Hickok and the others will have to join him, but the stagecoach comes by and the Driver says " The Creator May Be Hard But He Isn't Blind", and they can go to Heaven. Sonny decides to stay behind with Rose, and take over Hickok's job as Sheriff. The driver said to Johnny " Your place will be ready when you want it." I saw a smile on Dolly's face, (because she knew indeed that Sonny saved her). Sonny basically had a very difficult task. Not only saving Dolly, but the town, and he will be rewarded with his place in Heaven with Rose.

This film starts out with a band of desperadoes led by "Blackjack Britton" (Eric Roberts) who decide to rob the bank in a town called "Sweetwater". What they don't anticipate is that while they are robbing the bank the U.S. Cavalry happens to also ride into town. A gunfight ensues and the bandits hightail it out of town as fast as they can with a large posse chasing after them. The further they ride the more desperate they become and eventually lose all of the money they had stolen. Then they encounter a dust storm and when they finally ride through it they come upon a town called "Refuge" which is well off the beaten path. At first they decide to keep a low profile but then they notice that nobody in the town is armed. Not content with simply accepting the town's hospitality they soon decide to force themselves upon it. But what they don't realize is that this is no ordinary town. And the townsfolk are not run-of-the-mill people either. Anyway, rather than disclosing the mystery of the movie and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this is not an ordinary western. The acting is decent and Amelia Heinie (as "Rose") certainly lent some nice scenery. But what made this film so unusual was the unique storyline which was quite intriguing. All things considered then, although the end was somewhat predictable the movie managed to keep my attention for the most part and I rate it as slightly better than average.

I found this movie to be an unexpected letdown. The premise and cast seemed promising enough, but the script wasn't able to deliver. It's interesting to point out that although I was initially unaware that it was a made-for-TV movie, halfway through it felt like I was watching Wifetime. The film is littered with clichés, inconsistencies, and unanswered questions. For instance, when the first gang member was killed (presumably by god) for attempting murder, why weren't the rest treated the same way? In fact, with that precedent (that the townspeople were protected by god), there wouldn't have been anywhere for the story to go. So why was that scene even included? And why would being innocently killed by the gang cause the sheriff to go to hell? But, despite the obvious problem areas, this film should be moderately enjoyable for the Western lover.