Lightning Triggers: Just Another Dusty Trail

Is it worth the watch?

Look, if you have a soft spot for old black-and-white westerns where the dialogue is thin and the horses do most of the heavy lifting, you might find something to like here. If you’re looking for high art or a complex plot, steer clear. It’s a movie made for a rainy afternoon when you just want to see some guys in hats ride around in circles.

Reb Russell is the kind of hero who never seems to break a sweat, even when he's undercover in a literal den of thieves. He walks into the hideout with enough confidence to make you think he’s either the bravest man on earth or just didn't read the script.

The family drama hits hard, kind of.

The reveal that Bull Thompson is actually Reb’s long-lost dad is the kind of stuff that would make a soap opera writer blush. It’s delivered so fast you almost miss the gravity of it. One minute they’re throwing punches, the next they’re having a moment of realization that feels like it was tacked on in the editing room.

I couldn't help but think about Roaming while watching this. Both films have that same sense of being put together on a shoestring budget where the scenery is just whatever patch of dirt they could find that day.

• The fight scenes look like they were choreographed by someone who just watched a tavern brawl from a distance.
• I’m pretty sure the same three horses appear in every single wide shot.
• The pacing is frantic, which is honestly a blessing because it doesn't give you time to ask too many questions.

There is this one shot of a campfire that lingers for way too long. The characters are just staring into the flames, and you can practically hear the director yelling "act natural!" at them. It’s awkward, but in a weirdly charming way.

The whole thing feels like a cousin to the grit you see in The Scar of Shame, though obviously in a completely different genre. It’s got that same dusty, utilitarian feeling where the film stock itself looks like it's seen better days.

I kept waiting for someone to actually say something memorable, but the script just keeps shuffling them toward the next shootout. You don't come to a movie like this for the monologues, I guess. You come for the hat-tipping and the inevitable chase scene across the canyon floor.

It’s not a masterpiece, and it’s definitely not going to change your life. But for an hour or so? It’s just fine. Sometimes that’s enough. 🤠