Blackthorn (Blu-ray)

Ever wondered what exactly happened at the end of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? You see our two heroes running towards a wall of bullets and certain death – but what if one of them actually survived? That's the idea behind Blackthorn, in which the great Sam Shepard plays Butch Cassidy, who made it through the bullets and is now living his live in a tiny Bolivian village under the name Blackthorn.

In classic Western style, Blackthorn decides this sleepy existence is not enough, and he wants to see his family again before he dies, so sets off on a classic road trip. However, shortly after setting off, he has a calamitous run-in with Noriega's Spanish engineer Eduardo, who's pinched $50,000 from greedy mine owners.

Blackthorn - now depleted off his savings which headed off on the back of a runaway horse - insists Eduardo pay him back by retrieving the loot from its hiding place in an old mine.

Director Mateo Gil, who co-wrote Open Your Eyes, The Sea Inside and Agora, neatly resuscitates Butch's old quandary - the reluctant outlaw hunted down by implacable bounty hunters - and even brings back the Pinkerton "man in the hat" from 1969's Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in the form of Stephen Rea's sozzled lawman.

However, what really grabs the attention are cinematographer JA Ruiz Anchia's staggeringly beautiful Bolivian vistas, the riotously colourful backdrop against which Blackthorn tries to outrun his pursuers. Shepard is superb as Blackthorn, his weather-beaten face belying his youthful grip on life.

Miguel Barros' script (much of which is in Spanish) is intriguing, playing a number of cards close to its chest until the final act. It also throws in some enjoyable riffs on George Roy Hill's Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, echoing lines and situations as well as elements of Paul Newman's performance.

Overall verdict: For western fans this is a treat, with stunning cinematography, a solid script and great central performance at its heart.

Reviewer: Mike Martin