The teaser is available now on YouTube.com.
Based on the 1921 Zane Grey novel of the same name, “To the Last Man” involves two sets of ranchers whose battle over water rights during a drought turns bloody.
Toplining the picture as heads of the respective groups of battling ranchers are Scott Tanner and Raging Stallion lifetime exclusive Ricky Sinz.
The large supporting cast includes studio exclusives Antonio Biaggi, RJ Danvers, Jake Deckard, Tristan Jaxx, Bo Matthews and Damian Rios.
Additional performers include Damien Crosse (billed as an exclusive, but whose contract has since expired), Scott Freemont, Antton Harri, Rick Powers, Jimmy Trips and Jackson Wild.
Company CEO Chris Ward co-directed with Ben Leon and Tony DiMarco.
“This teaser is not the official trailer, but it gives an idea of the size and scope of the film,” Ward told XBIZ.
“Ricky Sinz is amazing. He should be a strong contender for best actor at the award shows. He has some long, extended scenes that are delivered masterfully. He should be in Hollywood.”
Ward expects the violence in “To the Last Man” to engender controversy.
He responded to early negative feedback on his official blog.
“We wanted to make a real Western — not some cheesy porno rip-off. We shot on location in Arizona, used real horses, real guns and hired some real cowboys to be in the cast,” he wrote.
“In short, we spent lots of time, money and energy to be as authentic as possible. In this spirit we made the decision to stay true to the Western genre, which requires violence.”
Ward said the primary location used for filming was a ranch that included a memorial to those who died on the property.
“The monument listed how each person was killed: one man was killed by Indians up at the river; another person had been shot in a drunken fight at a saloon; still another died of injuries from a fistfight. One guy died in a ‘horse wreck.’ No one at the graveyard lived past about 40 years of age.”
Ward drew a line between the violence in “To the Last Man” and the films of Quentin Tarantino and the Coen Bros.
“Today, Hollywood films are rife with violence — it is part of modern entertainment… This is a film for the 21st Century and it reflects the entertainment values of 2008.”
However, an all-sex edit will be made available on each DVD as a bonus feature for those who would prefer to skip the bloody storyline.
The film will be released as a four-disc set at TLAVideo.com and GayDVD.com on Thanksgiving weekend.
A pared-down version in two parts will be made available for retail sales. “To the Last Man: The Gathering Storm” streets Jan. 1, 2009 and “To the Last Man: Guns Blazing” will drop March 1, 2009.
Additionally, the film will be released on Blu-ray in time for Christmas.
