Feud of the West: A Dusty, Forgettable Rodeo Ride

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you're a die-hard fan of the era or you’ve got a massive pile of laundry to fold. If you want a tight, well-oiled thriller, you’re going to hate the pacing here. But, if you dig that old-school, slightly grainy charm where the villains are cartoonishly evil and the heroes talk like they're reading from a pamphlet, you’ll probably find something to enjoy.

The whole thing feels like it was filmed over a long, hot weekend in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes the sound quality drops off so much you'd think the microphone was hidden in a different zip code. It’s weirdly endearing, though.

The Rodeo Angle

Hoot Gibson is doing his best, which is usually just standing there looking rugged while someone else explains the plot. He’s the rodeo rider who gets caught up in this rancher’s mess. Watching him navigate the undercover stuff is funny because he basically just puts on a slightly different hat and everyone acts like they've never seen him before.

The horses look better than the actors in most scenes. There’s a moment during a chase where the frame shakes like the cameraman was tripping over a cactus. It’s glorious.

Wait, what about the plot?

The rancher is stealing horses and murdering relatives. It’s a bold business strategy, really. There’s a gang involved, of course, because one bad guy isn't enough to fill sixty minutes of screen time. It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Flashing Steeds, just with less focus and more shouting.

The transition between scenes is rough. It feels like the editor just gave up halfway through. One second they’re in a tense standoff, and then suddenly we’re at the local saloon watching a guy try to eat a sandwich. The flow is basically a series of jagged edges.

Small Things I Noticed

• The extras in the background of the saloon scene are clearly just waiting for their lunch break.
• The spurs make a sound like a bicycle bell in at least three different scenes.
• I’m pretty sure the same pile of rocks appears in four different locations.

It’s not a masterpiece. It doesn't try to be. It’s just a movie about a guy, some horses, and a whole lot of bad decisions. If you go in expecting nothing, you won't be disappointed. 🤠

Sometimes you just need a movie that feels like a dusty, half-remembered dream. This is that movie. It’s messy, sure, but it’s real in a way the polished stuff nowadays just isn't.