Last Man Standing

John Smith is a cryptic drifter drawn into a brutal feud between rival Prohibition era gangs. He shifts between sides as a mercenary, offering his skills to the highest bidder while guarding his own aims. The city roars with gunfire and loyalties feel temporary as he clings to survival rather than loyalty. Each encounter tests his nerve and wits, pitting the two gangs against each other and leaving a trail of broken allegiances. As the violence escalates, Smith takes matters into his own hands, using deception and grit to stay alive in a world where trust is scarce.

Walter Hill directs this 1996 period crime Western with a story credited to Akira Kurosawa and Ryuzo Kikushima. The film blends hard edged action with atmospheric tension and a sharp, morally gray hero.

It sits in Walter Hill's lineage of stylish gangster Westerns, leaning on tonal echoes of classic samurai cinema while giving Bruce Willis a laconic antihero persona. The look is smoky and lean, with choreographed standoffs that linger in memory for fans of the genre.

Critical responses highlighted the film's crisp pacing and sharp visuals, while some noted its tonal unevenness. Core themes include the corrosive pull of money, the eroding code of honor, and the price of survival in a lawless border town.