WFG RATING: B+

ITN Distribution presents a Hollywood Storm/San Rafael Productions film in association with ETA. Directed by Joe Cornet. Produced by Alexander Nevsky. Written by Craig Hamann. Cinematography by Sam Wilkerson. Edited by Cody Miller.

Stars Alexander Nevsky, Joe Cornet, Don “The Dragon” Wilson, James Chalke, Kerry Goodwin, Irina Antonenko, Tatiana Neva, with Matthias Hues, and Cynthia Rothrock.

Ivan Turchin and Vernon Kelly are back in this sequel to the 2023 Western as they face off against a new enemy. 

After stopping outlaw gang leader Ethan Crawley, things seem to be peaceful in Rio Bravo, where Sheriff Vernon Kelly and Ivan Turchin, the former Russian-born Civil War general, live. However, their worlds are about to be turned upside down when Vernon’s girlfriend Jenny and her best friend Valerie are ambushed and kidnapped by a mysterious figure. Margaret, one of the saloon workers, attempts to protect them but is killed as a result. 

When Vernon and Ivan decide to track down who is responsible, they run into Ivan’s old friend Angel, a Native American who served in the war with him. Angel knows who is responsible for the kidnappings. It is an outlaw gang called The Posse, led by Native American James Watuku. The trio decide to bring justice once again. However, things are not going to be as easy, as Ivan runs into a familiar face in the midst of the chaos.

2023’s Gunfight at Rio Bravo (winner of the WorldFilmGeek Award for Best Western) is inspired by the real life story of Ivan Turchaninov, who changed his name to “John Basil Turchin” upon his arrival to the United States. Not much was known after his life in the Civil War, hence the inspiration for the film as a post-War story for the hero. Played by WorldFilmGeek Hall of Famer Alexander Nevsky, the film combined the Western with beats of 90s style fight scenes. The sequel brings in a few more of the latter while keeping the flavor of the original. 

Nevsky reteams with director Joe Cornet as the duo of Turchin and Sheriff Vernon Kelly as they still have that great dynamic seen in buddy action films. Turchin is the tough-talkin’ Civil War hero while Vernon is the straight-laced law enforcer. This time, they have a third member of the team in Angel, played by kickboxing legend turned action icon Don “The Dragon” Wilson. One must keep in mind that this is the late 1800s so there may be some talk about Wilson’s role, but it holds well.

James Chalke pulls off a sadistic performance in the role of James Watuku, the leader of the Posse, an outlaw gang who kidnaps and sells women to rich business types. Art Camacho, the film’s stunt coordinator, gets in on the action as a Mexican outlaw who is accused of possibly being one of the kidnappers before he takes on Nevsky. Then there’s another martial arts icon in Cynthia Rothrock in the role of Margaret, who gets in on some action early in the film and whose death becomes the catalyst for the hunt. Tatiana Neva makes more of an extended cameo as a female bounty hunter who befriends Ivan and Vernon as they seem to have a common enemy. 

The film does offer a possible third installment in Last Heroes of Rio Bravo and I would be all for that as Taken from Rio Bravo may have only a 71-minute runtime before credits roll, but it is still overall fun. If you liked Gunfight at Rio Bravo, you’ll likely enjoy Taken from Rio Bravo.

The film will be released in select theaters and on XUMO Play on August 1.