When not playing a key role in the box office shattering Avatar film series, Stephen Lang is still making a variety of modest independent movies. His latest is “Hellfire”, a small town action thriller that tells a familiar story in a familiar setting about familiar characters facing a familiar dilemma. But Lang makes anything watchable. And supporting turns from Harvey Keitel and Dolph Lundgren add to the fun.

Set in 1988, the residents in the small one-horse town of Rondo, Texas live in the iron grip of a local crime boss and drug runner named Jeremiah Whitfield (Keitel). Whitfield owns most of the town and uses his power to force the handful of citizens to do his bidding. If they refuse, there’s a heavy price to pay. And they know too much for Whitfield to let them leave town.

Among the oppressed townsfolk is Owen (Chris Mullinax) and his daughter Lena (Scottie Thompson) who run a local bar. They are frequently terrorized by an area thug named Clyde (Michael Sirow). He is Whitfield’s entitled son who happens to have an eye for Lena. The people get no help from their spineless and corrupt Sheriff Wiley (Dolph Lundgren) which leaves them with little choice but to do what they’re told.

Things heat up when a drifter (Lang) wanders into town. He begins doing odd jobs for Owen in exchange for enough money for a meal and a motel room. But Whitfield is leery of newcomers. So he orders the sheriff to make sure the drifter, who Owen nicknames “Nomada”, packs his things and gets out of town. But the drifter decides to stick around, much to the chagrin of Whitfield’s gang who quickly learn that Nomada isn’t some helpless vagrant. He’s a highly skilled military war veteran with a possible higher calling.

What transpires from there isn’t hard to figure out. And generally speaking, the story plays out just as we might expect. But director Isaac Florentine and screenwriter Richard Lowry help things by throwing in a surprise or two, including an unexpected dark turn which we never see coming. Meanwhile Lang is a steady and sturdy presence who consistently elevates the material. And he’s especially good in the action sequences, showing remarkable physicality for a 73-year-old.

“Hellfire” is an easy and involving watch, and at 95 minutes it doesn’t drag out what is a pretty straightforward story. With the exception of one especially sharp turn, it doesn’t get a lot of mileage out of its well-travelled story. And it doesn’t have enough of its own flavor to leave a lasting impression. Still, Stephen Lang anchors the movie with grit and commitment while Keitel, Thompson, and Lundgren offer solid support.

VERDICT – 2.5 STARS