The Kid

The Kid is not actor Vincent D’Onofrio’s (Full Metal Jacket) directorial debut. That distinction goes to 2010’s forgotten about/poorly reviewed Don’t Go in the Woods, which I actually really enjoyed. That horror/thriller flick about a band of musicians that go into the woods to “get inspired” to write some new material but end up getting killed has one of the lowest scores ever on IMDb (2.7!). The Kid is not a remake of Disney’s The Kid (that could actually happen these days)(PUKE!), but rather a retelling of the final Billy the Kid/Sheriff Pat Garrett encounter, this time from the perspective of a young boy named Rio. Dane DeHaan (Green Goblin from Amazing Spider-Man 2) as Billy the Kid, Ethan Hawke as Pat Garrett, and Chris Pratt as Grant Cutler put on spectacular, believable performances, but it’s young Jake Schur who plays The Kid (for whom the film is named for, not Billy the Kid) who steals the show (we’re sure to see lots of this young talent coming up!). If you’re a fan of Westerns, you’ll certainly like this film – it’s better, more realistic, and more serious than those somewhat silly Young Guns movies of the late ’80s/early ’90s. But if you’re looking for a historical Billy the Kid biopic, you’ll probably leave disappointed.

[R]