Bad Girls

Bad Girls is a captivating and action-packed Western themed movie which was released in the year 1994. The film brings a dynamic and enthralling twist to the usually perceived masculine dominance of the Western genre by showcasing four strong and free-spirited women as the primary characters that western genre lore wouldn't ordinarily include. It features some of the wonderful talents in Hollywood: Madeleine Stowe, Mary Stuart Masterson, Andie MacDowell, and Drew Barrymore.

Created under the direction of Jonathan Kaplan and written by Ken Friedman and Yolande Turner, Bad Girls firmly establishes a unique identity for itself within the world of western films. Elements of classic Western narrative staples, such as bank heists, quick-draw showdowns, and lawmen versus outlaws, are evidently present, but it is uniquely framed via the perspective of four very different women united by circumstances, whose collective character arc forms the crux of the plot.

Madeleine Stowe plays the passionate and fiery Cody Zamora, the unofficial leader of the group who is always ready to step up and face the problems that come her way. Mary Stuart Masterson brings life to Anita Crown, the most practical and logical of the four, having been a woman of science in her past life as a botanist. Andie MacDowell is Eileen Spenser, who is trying to leave her past behind and find a new, more respectable life. Drew Barrymore plays the character of Lilly Laronette, the youngest and most naive of the group, eager to prove her mettle and find her own path.

Bad Girls is set in the late 19th-century American West, and the film initiically focuses on the challenging life faced by the four main characters who are involved in the lawful but societally condemned business of entertaining men. However, an act of self-defence by Cody propels them into a struggle for survival as they escape the pursuits of a relentless detective named Graves, played by Dermot Mulroney.

As outlaws, they find themselves embroiled in a world of crime, corruption, and betrayal. However, the undying resilience and camaraderie between the four women keep them going against all the odds. Despite their different personalities and pasts, they manage to build an unbreakable friendship and trust, standing strongly besides each other through various perils which ensure the progression of the plot in a thrilling manner.

The plot thickens when the women hear about a secret transportation of gold by the railroad company Wells Fargo. As they embark on this risky mission, they hope to achieve enough capital to move north and start a new life. The thrilling events that unfold as they set out to accomplish this task make the storyline even more engaging.

The main strength of Bad Girls lies in its depiction of empowered women. The movie showcases women who are completely capable of handling and emerging victorious from situations filled with danger. They are not damsel-in-distress figures waiting for their knights in shining armor. Instead, they are creators of their own destiny, unafraid of taking the bull by its horns, and certainly not reliant on men for their survival.

Cinematography in the film deserves special mention as it conveys the distinct purity and harshness of the Old West. From dusty towns to open prairies and beautiful sunsets, the film offers a multitude of visuals that capture the essence of life in the West during the late 19th century.

‘Bad Girls’ is an exciting film that offers a power-packed blend of action, drama and sisterhood, all set in the picturesque landscape of the Old West. It reconstructs the imposed notions of the wild west by placing women as gunslingers, bank robbers, and outlaws. Balancing feminism with the traditionally masculine genre of Westerns, the film is a must-watch for those seeking a different perspective on the Old West. It sustains the spirit of the genre, while adding its own unique subversions, resulting in a film that is both respectably traditional and starkly refreshing.