The Irish Gringo: A Dusty Little Curio

Should you watch this?

Honestly, only if you have a real soft spot for bottom-of-the-barrel westerns from a bygone era. If you’re a fan of The Broncho Twister, you might find something to like here. If you want something that moves fast or makes sense, stay far away.

The whole thing feels like it was filmed in a backyard somewhere in the 1930s. The desert backdrop is just endless, flat, and kind of hypnotic in its monotony. It’s the kind of movie you put on while you’re folding laundry.

Tex Palmer plays our title character with a level of stoicism that borders on sleeping. He just wanders into frame, shoots a gun, and leaves. It’s almost impressive how little he seems to care about the plot.

The girl in the desert

There is this moment when they find the little girl. The camera lingers on her face for about ten seconds too long. You can literally see the actress waiting for the director to yell cut. It’s awkward, but that’s the charm.

The dialogue is stiff. It’s like everyone is reading their lines off a napkin for the first time. They don't talk; they declaim. It reminds me of the pacing in Pioneers of Palestine, just a bit less serious and a lot more dusty.

• The horses look bored.
• The gunfights are basically just guys pointing sticks at each other.
• There is a lot of squinting into the sun.

I don't know why, but I kept waiting for someone to actually show emotion. It never happens. They just keep riding. The movie gets a bit better toward the end, mainly because the music stops being so loud. 🏜️

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s barely a movie. But there’s something honest about how cheap it is. No fancy lighting. No CGI. Just a bunch of people in hats wandering around a dry patch of land. Maybe that’s enough sometimes.