While watching the new hybrid western-stylized remake “The Magnificent Seven” you might have to make a drinking game out of the body count this movie has in its crosshairs. Because I don’t think you will see a movie this year with more carnage or retribution than what director Antoine Fuqua puts on display here. Which is about the extent of morals behind his new actioner that follows a group of seven men, on a quest for righteousness and glory.

At the start of “Seven” the small town of Rose Creek is under siege from a merciless, bureaucratic gold prospector named Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard) and in effort to show just how cruel he is, Bogue sets the local church ablaze, murders a few townsfolk on sight, and promises to return in two weeks for the rest of the land. Young widow Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett’s) who is vindictive in her truth for justice, understands if the small town wants help, they will have to hire it. Cue Sam Chisholm (Denzel Washington) the kind of government appointed official that eats people like Bogue for breakfast. He accepts Cullen’s offer (and big bag of gold) and begins assembling his quartet of slayers to help lead the fight. First up is Josh Faraday (Chris Pratt) a local townie that enjoys fooling his targets with sleight of hand card tricks. Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke), a rebel shooter that has over 20 confirmed kills, and a yearn to be done with the war. His right hand companion Billy Rocks (Byung-hun Lee) who can throw a knife faster than a speeding bullet. Outlaw bandit Vasquez (Manuel Garcia Rulfo), a red-faced Comanche who calls himself Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier) and a human yeti named Jack Horne (Vincent D’Onofrio).

Despite their characters being vastly underwritten, it’s their fine performances that can help guide us to the end (which is what anyone purchasing a ticket will want to see anyway). For the majority of that, it’s good fun, with a tenacious attitude of over-the-top violence, you can’t help but wink and nod at. Kind of like a throwback to the many generations that grew up watching John Wayne on the small screen. Sadly, it’s also one of the many disappointing instances where “The Magnificent Seven” choose style over substance. Fuqua, assembling his homicide squad, never makes the audience feel like they are along for the ride. And with as good as the finale aspires to be, it feels more like a waste of these actors terrific chemistry, then it does adding to the story. As nice as it is to see a wide array of diversive casting on screen, it doesn’t do much if the scenes which prelude the finale are boring. This is a type of film, with a bit more control and focus, could have been magnificent. Whereas the ambition outweighs the quality, and this seven only feels like a prime number, instead of sweet justice. C