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6.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Border Devils remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Look, if you are the kind of person who enjoys watching 1930s B-westerns with a glass of lukewarm coffee, you might find something to like here. If you need tight logic or actors who aren't just reading lines off a barn door, stay away. This is for the completists who like the smell of old film stock and horses that look like they’d rather be eating hay than acting.
It’s not exactly high art, but it’s got that specific, scratchy charm that only these old studio churn-outs really possess. The plot is basically a classic 'undercover guy gets in too deep' setup, but it moves with the grace of a drunk mule.
The whole bit where Jim assumes Neil’s identity happens so fast you’ll get whiplash. One second Neil is dead, and the next, Jim is just… being him? Nobody seems to care much about the change in personality. I guess back then, if you wore the right hat, you were basically a different person anyway.
Also, George 'Gabby' Hayes is in this, which is always a treat for those of us who grew up on Saturday matinees. He brings a kind of manic energy that feels like he’s in a completely different, much better movie than everyone else. He’s the only one actually trying to sell the lines.
There’s a scene where they get captured that drags on for an eternity. The bad guys just stand there holding their guns like they’re waiting for a bus. It’s hilariously tense, if you can call it that. It reminded me a bit of the pacing issues I saw in Never Too Old, where everything just feels a little bit stuck.
The demand that Jim has to kill his friend to join the gang? It’s classic stuff, but the delivery is so flat it’s almost funny. You can see the actor thinking about his lunch break during the big monologue. It’s not great, but I couldn't look away. It’s that weird, slightly imperfect filmmaking that makes you realize movies weren't always these giant, polished corporate products. Sometimes they were just people making a buck in the desert.
It’s definitely not going to be anyone’s favorite film, but it’s a weird little footnote in the genre. If you want something that doesn't demand you think too hard, this is it. Just don't expect it to make much sense if you try to follow the plot too closely. 🤠
IMDb 5.3
1919
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