The Phantom of the Range: A Dusty, Forgettable Ride

Is it worth watching?

Honestly, only if you have a soft spot for 1930s B-westerns or just really need something playing in the background while you fold laundry. If you’re looking for a tight, logical plot, keep walking. But if you want to see guys in ten-gallon hats running around a ranch looking for buried treasure under a full moon, you’ll probably find something to chuckle at here. People who demand high production value will hate it immediately.

The whole movie moves at a pace that feels like it’s trying to beat the sunset. Jerry Lane, played by Tom Tyler, is the kind of hero who just sort of drifts into the plot by buying a haunted ranch on a whim. Who does that? Just buys a ranch because they’re bored and want to live near the desert.

There’s this Cockney sidekick, Eddie, who is a kleptomaniac. It’s an odd character choice that doesn't really go anywhere, but he ends up being the one who snags the treasure map. Watching him shuffle around acting like he’s in a different movie entirely was the most interesting part of the experience.

Oddly specific observations:

• The "ghostly rider" looks about as scary as a bedsheet with holes cut in it.
• The portrait of the old miser stays on the wall way longer than any sane person would allow.
• Every time someone mentions Tower Rock, the music swells like we’re about to find the secrets of the universe.
• The way they handle the full moon lighting is hilariously stagey.

I couldn't help but think about how much simpler this felt compared to a movie like The Scarlet Daredevil. It doesn’t try to be anything other than a quick distraction. It’s not trying to win awards or change how we see the world. Sometimes, that’s just fine.

The villain, Brandon, is classic mustache-twirling territory. He’s got that specific way of talking where you know he’s bad because he barely moves his mouth. The frame-up job near the end feels rushed, like the writers realized they only had ten minutes left and just mashed the plot buttons as hard as they could.

Is it better than The Criminal Path? That’s a tough call. They both share that same low-budget, get-it-done energy. There’s no fat on this movie, mostly because they didn't have the budget to afford any. It just is what it is, a dusty little relic that knows exactly how much it’s worth. 🤠