Review of Traded (2016) by Curtis R — 09 Sep 2016

This movie is written like a cliff notes version of a B movie with a former A list actor and a bunch of D list principal actors. For example, a stranger exchanges a few words with a bartender and gets an awkwardly placed heart to heart speech by the bartender who for some mysterious reason acts like they have a deep long term acquaintance and is emotionally invested in the stranger.

This is what I mean by 'cliff notes version'. Throughout this film every scene looks like they are miles apart. Zero cohesiveness. Situationally, every scene is not even sensible. The writer forgot to ask a simple question.

.. how would a normal person react to this situation. This horrible writing is the main cause of this flop, the close second goes to the director who makes you feel like you are missing scenes... constantly asking, 'what did I miss?' This goes to show you that even with a few good actors, a bad writing and directing job will tank a film.

There was only one scene where it looked like the director made an effort... the first meeting of the lead character and the Trace Adkins character. Then we move from there to an obviously overly set up coincidence of a familiar song.

I think every director and writer should see this flick as a perfect example of what NOT to do. Note Christopherson's character who instantly loves the main guy, then pulls a gun on him only to suddenly appear in the end after following this guy to a new city.

.. then more heartfelt blah blah and gives him his horse. Absolutely pathetic movie. Amazing.