Purgatory

1999 • 94 minutes
4,7
166 reviews
78%
Tomatometer
Eligible
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About this movie

Between somewhere and nowhere in the untamed West is the small town of Refuge. There, neither the sheriff nor his deputy carry a sidearm. There's no jail either, because shooting, carousing and bad blood are not in the town's character. What peaceful folks live there? Wild Bill Hickok. Doc Holliday. Jesse James. Billy the Kid. All long dead. All mysteriously given a chance to undo their violent pasts in Purgatory. All put to a stern test when Blackjack and his ornery gang ride into town.

Ratings and reviews

4,7
166 reviews
A Google user
22 August 2024
The novel introduces Refuge, a serene and unconventional town in the untamed West where lawlessness and violence are conspicuously absent. In Refuge, neither the sheriff nor his deputy carries a firearm, and there is no jail to confine wrongdoers. Instead, this small town offers a peaceful reprieve for historical outlaws who have been given a second chance to atone for their past misdeeds.
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A Google user
30 August 2024
The town’s peaceful existence is tested when Blackjack and his gang arrive, threatening to unravel the fragile tranquility the residents have fought to maintain. The absence of guns and jails in Refuge symbolizes a deeper struggle for these infamous outlaws, now faced with the opportunity to undo their bloody pasts in what seems to be a form of purgatory.
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Jonathan Whitesides
25 September 2025
“Purgatory” is a haunting meditation on guilt, grace, and the human condition. With stark visuals and layered performances, it captures the tension between redemption and despair. The narrative unfolds like a moral fable, inviting introspection and empathy. A bold, atmospheric film that lingers in the soul.
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