Wild Card (1992)

Director: Mel Damski

Writers: Ted Thackrey Jr., Scobie Richardson

Composer: W.G. Snuffy Walden

Starring: Powers Boothe, Cindy Pickett, Terry O'Quinn, Rene Auberjonois, M. Emmet Walsh

More info: IDMb

Tagline: Preacher still believes in God.  They're just not speaking right now.

Plot: Thriller about a former preacher, now a professional gambler, who heads down New Mexico way to visit an old buddy, only for him to be killed. It is not long before the Preacher is uncovering a hotbed of corruption and murder in the seemingly peaceful town, aptly named Farewell.

My rating: 6/10

Will I watch it again?  No.

I figured this wasn't going to be all that good but considering I'm a big fan of Powers Boothe, Terry O'Quinn and a HUGE fan of M. Emmet Walsh and the story sounded less boring than adopting kids or something.  It is better and thanks to the cast.  The story moves along pretty well so at no point was I bored but there's no escaping the film's low budget TV movie feel.  Director Damski has worked almost entirely in TV since his first in 1974.  Hold on to your butts because he's currently working on GARAGE SALE MYSTERY: THE MASK MURDER (2018).  No joke.  It's in pre-production so it may be a while before you get to see it.  WILD CARD seems like it's a story you've seen a hundred times and for the most part it is but then you've got the three leads mentioned that elevate it.  The climax brings some welcome twists that also help the picture.  It's an OK movie that's neither very good nor is it even bad.  But there's one thing that was so atrocious I have to share this clip.   Preacher (Boothe) and Dana (Pickett) are walking along and then suddenly a helicopter appears out of nowhere but there is no way possible they wouldn't have seen it nor would they have not heard it a mile away and it literally comes from below and it hovers literally a few feet away from them.  Un-Fucking-Believable!  See for yourself and take a minute to pick your jaw off the floor.