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7.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Smoky remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for classic Westerns where the animal is the real lead, you’ll probably find something to like here. If you need snappy dialogue or fast pacing, stay away. It’s a movie that moves at the speed of a tired trail horse.
I caught Smoky on a whim, mostly because I needed something that wasn't trying to be an 'event.' It’s simple, maybe a bit too simple, but it doesn't have that frantic energy modern blockbusters are obsessed with. It just exists.
The bond between the horse and Clint is the whole show. You really feel the shift when they get separated—the movie gets a lot colder and less interesting for a good chunk of the middle. It’s almost like the film itself is missing its partner.
Watching the horse get relegated to pulling a junk wagon was honestly depressing. You can see the weariness in the animal’s eyes, or maybe I’m just projecting. The film doesn't shy away from the cruelty of the trade, which I appreciated. It wasn't just a fairy tale.
It’s not as tightly put together as something like Design for Living, but it’s not trying to be. It feels a bit like one of those old Fox Movietone News clips—like you're looking through a window into a world that doesn't really exist anymore. 🐎
There’s a specific scene where the horse is just standing there in the sun. It lasts for a while. Most directors would have cut it, but they kept it. It’s weirdly hypnotic.
Is it a masterpiece? No. But it kept me watching, which is more than I can say for most things I’ve seen lately. Sometimes you just need a story about a guy and his horse, even if the edges are a bit frayed.