The film is set during the Prohibition era in a small Texas town called Jericho, which is controlled by two rival gangs: the Italian Mafia led by Frank Nitti (played by Christopher Walken) and the Irish Mob led by Doyle (played by David Patrick Kelly). Into this volatile environment comes John Smith (played by Bruce Willis), a mysterious drifter with a violent past.
Smith arrives in Jericho seeking refuge and a fresh start, but he quickly finds himself drawn into the conflict between the two gangs. He initially tries to remain neutral, but circumstances force him to pick a side when he becomes embroiled in a series of violent confrontations.
As tensions escalate between the gangs, Smith plays both sides against each other, manipulating events to his advantage and gaining a reputation as a ruthless and deadly gunman. Along the way, he forms alliances with various characters, including bartender Felina (played by Karina Lombard) and saloon owner Joe Monday (played by William Sanderson).
In the climax of the film, Smith orchestrates a final showdown between the Italian and Irish gangs, using his skills and cunning to outwit and outgun his enemies. In a brutal and bloody shootout, Smith emerges as the last man standing, having eliminated both rival gangs and established himself as the new power in Jericho.
In the aftermath of the conflict, Smith rides out of town, leaving behind a trail of destruction and death. His true motives and identity remain shrouded in mystery, as he disappears into the wilderness, leaving Jericho to rebuild and recover from the chaos he has wrought.
“Last Man Standing” is praised for its stylish direction, intense action sequences, and Bruce Willis’s charismatic performance as the enigmatic antihero. It combines elements of the Western and gangster genres, delivering a gritty and atmospheric tale of survival, betrayal, and redemption in a lawless frontier town.