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A definitive 6.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Texas Bad Man remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-school Westerns where the hero wears a white hat and the horse is basically a main character, you'll have a good time. If you need complex motives or high-end production, steer clear. This is for people who want to see a guy jump off a roof onto a saddle and call it a Tuesday.
Tom Mix is the whole show here. He’s got that specific kind of swagger that makes you wonder how he stayed on his horse through half the stunts. The plot is simple—it’s basically just a straight line from "let's trick the outlaws" to "everyone gets caught."
The bad guys are the usual bunch of snarling, dusty fellows who stand around looking suspicious. Keefe is the boss, and he spends half the movie whispering to henchmen behind posts. It’s not subtle. You can spot the betrayal coming from three towns away.
There is a moment where Tom has to rob a stagecoach to get in with the gang. It’s played for drama, but the pacing is so fast you barely get a chance to care. The camera just cuts, and suddenly he's in the gang. Poof.
It’s not as dramatic as Sentenced for Life, but it isn't trying to be. It’s just a Saturday afternoon distraction. There’s a lot of running around in the desert and squinting at the sun. 🤠
Sometimes the movie just stops making sense. Why did they decide to trust the guy they just watched rob a stage? The scriptwriters didn't seem to care, so why should I? It’s just fun watching them ride around, kicking up dust.
The dialogue is mostly just people shouting plans at each other. It’s fine. It works. Not every movie needs to be a masterpiece.