The Red Shadow: Desert operetta weirdness

Is this thing worth a watch?

Honestly, only if you’re into the kind of dusty, theatrical melodrama that doesn't exist anymore. If you want gritty realism, keep walking. You’ll probably hate it if you have zero patience for guys in masks and people breaking into song during a military campaign. But if you like old-school, slightly ridiculous romantic tropes, you might find it charming in a weird way.

The whole premise of The Red Shadow feels like it was cooked up during a particularly long lunch break. You’ve got Pierre, who is supposedly this total weakling, but the second he puts on a cape and a mask, he’s basically a legend in the Moroccan desert. It’s the classic "Clark Kent" problem, but with more sand and fewer phone booths.

Reginald Carrington really leans into the 'misunderstood hero' thing, even if he looks a bit bored during the scenes where he’s just supposed to be a regular soldier. The way the French officers treat him is just mean, really. It’s like, we get it, he’s not good at cleaning his boots, stop yelling at him already.

The stuff with the "Riffs" is... well, it’s a product of its time. Let’s just say history didn’t get a vote in the scriptwriting process. It reminded me a bit of the dated perspectives you see in A Daughter of the Congo, where the setting is more about the vibe than the actual place.

Wait, why is he wearing that?

The Red Shadow outfit is something else. It’s dramatic, it’s flowy, and it makes absolutely zero sense for tactical combat in the desert. But who cares, right? It looks cool when he stands on a dune with the wind blowing just right. You can almost see the wires on the set if you squint hard enough.

Margot’s whole arc is just baffling. She’s in love with the dweeb, then she’s swooning for the guy with the mask, and she never puts the pieces together. It’s funny in a way that I’m pretty sure wasn’t intended. One of the reaction shots when she sees the masked hero goes on for about five seconds too long, and you can practically hear the director yelling, "Look more surprised!"

The music pops up in these really abrupt ways. Sometimes they’re talking about military strategy, and suddenly—boom—everyone is singing. It’s jarring, but kind of impressive how they just commit to it. It’s not exactly Within Our Gates in terms of social weight, but it’s got its own strange energy.

• The uniforms are way too clean for a desert war.
• I’m still not sure where he hides the mask when he’s being a soldier.
• There is one horse that clearly had better acting instincts than half the cast.
• The lighting in the night scenes is suspicious, like a giant flashlight is following everyone around.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s barely a coherent movie half the time. But there’s a genuine passion in how silly it is. You don't see this kind of earnest, over-the-top nonsense made anymore. It's just... it is what it is. 🌵🎭