Code of the Range: A Dust-Covered B-Western

Is it worth your time?

If you're a fan of old-school B-Westerns, you'll probably get a kick out of this. If you need complex character arcs or, you know, a plot that doesn't feel like it was assembled from spare parts, look elsewhere. It’s a very specific flavor of 1930s cinema that exists mostly to fill a Saturday afternoon.

The whole thing is basically a race to see who can look more suspicious while standing near a fence. The cattle baron in this is a real piece of work, acting like the rancher is committing a crime against humanity by just letting some sheep eat grass. It’s a weird hill to die on, but hey, that’s the Wild West for you.

Notes from the ranch

The pacing is… well, it’s fast. Like, blink-and-you-miss-the-entire-motive fast. One minute there’s a timid bank clerk, and the next he’s toast and someone’s being framed for a murder they didn't commit. It makes the plot of The Glass Key look like a slow-burn mystery in comparison.

There’s a moment where a deed gets swiped that is so blatantly obvious I actually laughed out loud. The clerk looks about as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. You just know he’s not making it to the final act.

• The horses clearly have more personality than half the extras.
• The dialogue is mostly just people shouting about deeds and land rights.
• The shadows are long, dramatic, and mostly there to hide the budget constraints.

Honestly, watching this felt a bit like stumbling onto a set that was about to be torn down. There’s no fat on the bone, but there isn’t a whole lot of meat either. It doesn't have the emotional weight of Poil de carotte, but it’s not trying to. It’s just a movie about a guy who wants to keep his land.

I found myself staring at the background extras more than the actual lead. One guy in the back of the saloon scene is just holding a mug for three minutes without taking a sip. It’s mesmerizing in a very strange way. 🤠

It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a decent enough way to kill an hour if you like your drama simple and your guns clicking loudly every time they get drawn.