Austin-based filmmaker Brock Harris’s new film, Cottonmouth, set in the late 1800s has new and established actors to draw the audience attention to it now that it is on Prime Video. Harris made his directorial debut with Wild Game (2021). Dance Dads (2022) premiered at the Austin Film Festival and won an Audience Award.
SYNOPSIS: When Ed Dantes is framed and condemned to the torture of a territorial prison in 1895, he must learn the ways of the outlaw to escape and exact his revenge.
I have enjoyed watching Western movies since I was a kid and saw “Gunsmoke,” “Rawhide” and “Bonanza” on television alongside my siblings and maternal grandmother. Back then, we were not thinking how “predictable” the story was going to be. We knew there would be plenty of stories about how residents lived in harmony as much as possible until the outsiders would ride into town and disturb the peace and other people’s happiness.
If you are a fan of such films from the genre, I am happy to say the story from Harris for his new film, Cottonmouth, checks off all the points of what life was like in the late 1800s. This film is not set in Texas, but in Oklahoma and includes Native American characters. As was history then (and now), this story captures the pride and greed of those with wealth who want to amass even more and will not hesitate to steal it any way necessary, including killing off people.
Ed Dantes (Martin Sensmeier, The Magnificent Seven, 2016, “Westworld,” 2018) is about to wed his fiancé, saloon singer Sophia (Alyssa Wapanatâhk) in Ingalls, Oklahoma. The man he considers a “buddy” Frank Ferrin (Jonathan Sadowski) to be a “wedding witness” decides he wants to be more than just a “witness.” He sees the dollar signs he wants. Sophia’s mama, Valentina (Kimberly Guerrero, “Reservation Dogs,” “Longmire” TV series), owns the saloon and thus begins the life changing action for many.
The Dunn Inn, owned and operated by Billy Dunn (Eric Nelsen) sits next to the saloon which is prime property. Ed lands in a prison run by Warden Victor Cain (Ron Perlman). Ed meets Abe, his cellmate (Esai Morales, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning/Final Reckoning) and soon learns how to survive the torture.
Yes, it may come as a surprise that the film features so many of the veteran actors who have been in big budget films. I am so glad to know that these actors provided their talent to support this film and these characters who are not the protagonists.
The film may not change the genre in a major way, but it is certainly good to watch as part of home entertainment. It is on Prime Video now (November 4th) after the worldwide premier at the 2025 Mammoth Film Festival. Want to watch it on a big screen away from home? It will be available in Texas on Sunday, November 9th at Round Top Film Festival (RTFF). Check their website for ticket information.
Runtime: 92 minutes
Source: Prime Video, RTFF
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