Lawless Valley: Just another horse-opera, but a decent one

Is it worth the watch?

If you live for the smell of celluloid and dusty cowboy hats, sure. If you aren't already into 1930s westerns, this is probably going to bore you to tears. It’s a very specific flavor of *no-nonsense* filmmaking.

The plot is as thin as the paper it was written on. You’ve got a guy, he’s got a badge or a mission, and he’s chasing El Lobo. That’s it. Don't go looking for complex character arcs here.

The good, the bad, and the dusty

There’s something weirdly charming about how fast these movies move. No wasted time. Just straight into the riding, the shooting, and the awkward dialogue. It feels like a cousin to Wild Horse Canyon in terms of pure, unadulterated grit.

I found myself staring at the horses more than the people. Raven the Horse has more screen presence than half the cast. Seriously, the horse carries the scene where everyone else is just standing around waiting for their line.

• The editing is... choppy. Like they just cut the film with a pair of kitchen scissors.
• The bad guys are clearly having a blast being evil.
• I’m pretty sure I saw the same rock twice in two different "states."

Is it as refined as something like Hamlet, Prince of Denmark? Ha. Not even close. But it’s not trying to be. It’s a movie that knows its place is on a rainy Tuesday afternoon on a local broadcast station.

There is this one scene where a character just walks through a door and sits down. It goes on for way too long. Why did they keep that in? Maybe they ran out of film? Who knows. 🤠

If you want something to put on while you fold laundry, this is it. It’s not going to change your life, but it’s a solid piece of history. Just don't ask for a masterpiece.