As films go, this one is excellent. How many would think DRACULA could be applied to a story about American Indians being tricked and massacred by Europeans. This film gives part of the story. And, I'm not "White" or Indian--half of both, English and Cherokee/Creek, but I understand trespass (sin) and how to escape (via the Sacrifice of the Wisdom of God come in human form). Too trippy for you? Then don't watch this film, which is almost as trippy. If David Lynch made a film about Indians... you get the picture.

Sam a Cherokee Indian has the world by the balls, he has everything all figured out. He's got his own Detective Agency, which is about to be bought up by Pinkerton Security agency and they're about to make him an agent. With his fancy clothes and motorbike he's spinning his wheels tracking down squaws that escape from the assimilation schools. He tells this to Charlie after he captures him. calling him a red-n-word, and how proud he is that he shrugged off his Native American trappings. Charlie tells them about another run-away Indian who's wanted for double murder. Now SAM isn't new to racism and seems to deal with the anti-Indian sentiment around town, in fact he profits off of it. On their tale is another bounty hunter McCOY the local Sheriff who isn't shown that much respect either. McCOY is world renown Indian killer and heroine addict. He reveals Sam's past telling him "Half the Indians I get credit for, were killed by you". Sam who is running from his passed is forced to face it.

Only a young Native American child, rounded up, captured and imprisoned within the confines of a religious institution, can truly understand the many torturous indignities of the past. Viewing this unfortunate punishment inflicted on children of Canadian ancestry, brings back horrors long dormant in history. Now, director Kevin Willmott, takes the story written by Thomas L. Carmody and imprints it on the silver screen. Incredibly talented, Wes Studi gives an impressive Academy Award performance in this film called " The only Good Indian ". He plays 'Sam' an indoctrinated Indian who has come to believe the only way to succeed in the modern White Man's world is to think and act like one. To that end, he plays an American tracker and survivor of the infamous Sand Creek massacre. J. Kenneth Campbell plays McCoy, an aging, crusty face survivor of the same incident, except that he, despite his murderous participation emerged a frontier hero. Winter Fox Frank plays 'Charlie' a reluctant Indian boy who was kidnapped and taken to a religious school to transform him into a 'civilized' Indian. Along for the journey is Sally (Thirza Defoe), a young Cherokee girl who killed a white man who was assaulting her. The trio are making their way across the land, all the while being pursued and discovering the ever-changing world of the twentieth century. With the exceptional performances of the cast, this movie is filled with eye-opening scenes which explain to anyone who has a heart, the difficulties of adapting to an alien world. The end result is that it should have garnered more awards and praise, in fact it should have been released in the main-stream theaters. It is this writer's opinion that, in time, it will become a Classic. Superior acting. ****

If you know your history, this story does a great job encompassing the issues of the late 19th- early 20th century. Dramatizing the changes of the dying "Wild" frontier to industrialization. The late 19th century was a crazy time for the USA. Land expansion, Civil War, Spanish American War and Native American Resettlement. Cowboys were NOT really Cowboys but more often outliers and Bounty Hunters, flip flopping between enforcing government law vs. the laws of the wild west. The Wild west as it was, was winding down. Many people thought they were doing right, the Missionaries who were coming in in droves to "civilize" thought they were doing right, the Bounty Hunters (Sam and McCoy) thought they were doing right. People like McCoy really were Lost because they realized they were becoming "Obsolete" (Turned into legends like Wild Bill being written about in mini-books and Silent Movies). The ongoing analogy between the Main Characters and VAMPIRES was SO COOL! Great writing. By focusing on the inner turmoil of those that truly believed they were doing right, (scene where McCoy kills the Indian Trafficer who felt he was "ENFORCING THE LAW"...and burning him)...(When Sam throws down his Pinkerton letter) realized they were doing wrong... were the true Vampires who preyed on innocents...(Native Americans)Eventually, they too would die out from "overhunting" each time losing more and more of their humanity along the way...the humans they needed to exist were diminishing. Thus these "Men" (or Vampires) eventually had to prey on themselves (final shootout). Who was the real Vampire? Sam or McCoy.(Hmmn, McCoy gave up on his humanity, had a breakdown when he saw the movie, he could no longer carry all the evil he inflicted). He felt he had to kill Sam for he believed Sam was the culprit who was sucking the life from him... an Indian.The true Vampire, or Devil had to die...One HAS to accept who they are...by killing the demon within (the knife embedded in the body) and relinquish the lies a person tells himself (Sam attempting to "live as a white man). When Sam beat the knife thru McCoy he regained his humanity. One must live in peace and honesty in ones own mind and heart. Sam regained his while traveling, and "teaching" the boy to be White, eventually noticing the true beauty and innocence of Sally...His People. This movie BLOWS away AVATAR on so many levels...AVATAR is HYPE, this story hits home on so many levels. My family came here 100 years ago. My grandparents forced my parents to speak only English, to "Blend into "Society" or white man's ways...We have done so. My children's history is not as vivid as mine. We have sacrificed our traditions for this Countries. We are now Lawyers, and Doctors...I imagine this is the sacrifice our ancestors agreed to make upon coming to this country to give us a better life. I feel deeply for the Native Americans as Well as the African Americans who were forced into servitude against their will. This movie demonstrates with excellent historical accuracy, that people AT THE TIME thought they had good intentions, but many were just as cruel as the other. As time dictates in retrospect, the movie demonstrates how truly ignorant and intolerant man can be and still is towards one another. But if he truly sees himself for what he is...and repels evil...Man CAN CHANGE. Great historical flick.