I’ve seen Young Guns many times on a well worn VHS. It was a childhood staple, which seems a little odd now and stepping back into it in 2025 is surreal experience. It may be a cowboy gunslinging dust bowl western, but this is pure 80s yeehaw Americana. Even with Terence Stamp’s accent. He’s John Tunstall, a New Mexico rancher. Pigs, Cows, Chickens and young men, vagrant runaway types who’re given a roof over their heads for an honest days work. They call themselves, Regulators. William (Emilio Estevez) is the new recruit. Rumour is he killed a man. Billy likes to play up to the rumour, but the tough act isn’t enough at the ranch. Tunstall expects the boys to be well mannered, to be educated. Despite the all star cast and it is all star. William, or Billy as he’ll soon be is the focus. The hero amongst hero’s… and the loose cannon. The villain, well that’s Murphy (Jack Palance). Dressed in black and backed by a large posse, he’s the stereotypical bad guy. He threatens Tunstall over a business squabble, “Get ready for hell” he says with that famous smile and then robs the Regulators of their father figure. It’s a revenge story, but the ensemble cast gives it some clout despite its simplicity. Picking off Murphy’s men, the gang find themselves on the lamb, fighting for their lives as Billy (the Kid) sees his stardom rise in the local papers. He may be the media darling but it’s Doc (Kiefer Sutherland) who takes up the more sensible roll. Well until they all get high on peyote. This scene serves little purpose other than a little comic relief really, but for some reason this is the scene that sticks with me after 30 years. This is all about the gunfights though. One of which Dick (Charlie Sheen) wishes he’d not got into. To be honest Sheen is a weak link. He’s not the only one Lou Diamond Phillips and Dermot Mulroney aren’t given much to do either. This is Estevez and Sutherland’s show, but honestly Billy is annoying and Doc is a bit flakey. It’s not terrible and it was a nostalgic rewatch, but it’s not great. Not even with the half decent shoot-out finale. They made a sequel that I never saw. I probably shouldn’t, but that’s up next.
5/10
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