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6.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Devil Horse remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for 1930s serials where the plot is mostly just a skeleton to hang stunts on, you'll probably enjoy The Devil Horse. It’s not exactly high art, but it’s got a scrappy energy that kept me watching. If you need clean pacing or modern dialogue, though, this will drive you up the wall.
Harry Carey is doing his usual thing here as Bob Norton, and honestly, the man just knows how to hold a frame. He looks like he’s actually been out in the sun for a few weeks, which is more than I can say for some of these studio-bound westerns.
The horse, Apache, gets as much screen time as the humans. Sometimes more. There’s a scene where the horse has to do some heavy lifting with the emotional acting, and I couldn't help but laugh. It’s just a horse, but the camera treats him like he’s auditioning for an Oscar. 🐴
The wild boy character is… something else. It feels like the writers just needed a reason to have someone running around the brush to add some chaotic movement. It works, in a weird way. It reminds me of the pacing in Mr. Robinson Crusoe, where you just sort of roll with the absurdity.
The bad guys are your standard issue mustache-twirlers. They don't have much depth, but they are very good at falling off horses in spectacular fashion. There’s a specific tumble near the end that looked genuinely painful. I hope that stuntman got paid extra for that one.
It’s not as polished as The Sign of the Cross, which came out the same year, but it isn't trying to be. It’s just trying to get you to the next chapter. And honestly? It mostly succeeds.
Just don't expect the plot to make sense if you stop to think about it for more than five seconds. The whole "finding the brother's killer" thing gets lost in the dust about twenty minutes in, and honestly, I didn't mind. The horse was doing cool stuff. That was enough.
