Taylor Sheridan has built an entire universe out of Yellowstone, reinventing the Western as an action genre with soapy family dynamics, and delivering some of the finest storytelling in cowboy land. High-octane action films are some of the most popular in modern cinema, so, when action thrillers and Western pieces blend well, there’s almost no chance for failure. In the latest victory in the streaming wars, once such example is a small movie you’ve never heard of that has been showing its superiority, not only standing among the most popular Westerns, but beating action icons like Tom Cruise at the same time. And all driven by an 80-year-old lady with an oxygen tank. Wait, what?
Those Folks at Big Horn Ridge Should Have Thought Twice
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a close up of Lin Shaye’s face in the last stand of Ellen coleNew Regency
Police officers in the last stand of Ellen coleNew Regency
A close up of liz claribel sierra’s face in the last stand of Ellen coleNew Regency
The Last Stand of Ellen Cole runs in the same spirit as other neo-Western pieces, with the setting being a beautiful town in the middle of nowhere, and one untold story unfolding unexpectedly. Ellen Cole is a stubborn old lady, carrying around her oxygen, and minding her own business. Her only concern is a local real estate project that cannot make significant progress because her house stands in the way.
Ellen bonds with Abby, an orphan trying to escape from the city who has drawn the attention of local law enforcement. When both women go to Ellen’s cozy home, and are attacked by masked assailants, the true nature of the 80-year-old widow comes to light. And it is something that no one imagined could be lurking in the quiet and sleepy Montana town of Big Horn Ridge.
Taking cues from recent action thrillers like John Wick and Nobody, but also capitalizing on the appeal that Westerns have acquired with Taylor Sheridan’s empire, The Last Stand of Ellen Cole delivers top-notch action, courtesy of a compelling and fascinating character. Lin Shaye, now 82, has been around since the late ’70s, bringing to life well-built characters across multiple genres. In recent years, she’s become known as the ghost hunter we’d call thanks to the Insidious franchise.
But The Last Stand of Ellen Cole is a bold twist on everything we’ve seen before. Even if some might argue she’s a bit old for the part, her charisma (and great stunt work) makes Ellen Cole her finest character yet. The best thing about this action hero is that she doesn’t ever leave behind the humanity that fuels her rage. She isn’t a harmless old lady. She’s angry, she’s got a reason for it, and beneath her tears, there is a secret that will make you forget the shoot-’em-ups starring Jason Statham, Keanu Reeves, and Liam Neeson. At least for the film’s 97-minute runtime.
‘The Last Stand of Ellen Cole’ Is Fighting for the Top Streaming Spot
The Last Stand of Ellen Cole was first released in 2024, but not many people saw it. After what must have been an extremely limited run at festivals, the film landed on streaming, where it got some attention the following year. However, it quickly faded away from public memory, probably because it wasn’t widely available to stream.
Surprisingly, the film has now found a second life, again in the streaming landscape The Western action thriller is climbing the global charts on Paramount+, and it currently sits on the No. 4 spot in the platform’s most-watched movies. It ranks below Primate and Scream 7, but above more popular hits like Top Gun: Maverick, World War Z, Night Hunter, and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
Birthdate
October 12, 1943
Birthplace
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Birthname
Linda Shaye