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5.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Thundering Herd remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old black-and-white Westerns that smell like horses and sagebrush, sure. You'll probably dig this. If you need snappy dialogue or, you know, a plot that doesn't feel like it was dragged through a cactus patch, you’ll hate it.
I sat down with The Thundering Herd expecting a standard ride, but it's got this weirdly frantic energy. It’s not exactly refined filmmaking. Most of it is just guys yelling over the sound of wind and hoofbeats.
Buster Crabbe is in this, which is always a treat if you like that old-timey square-jawed intensity. He’s got this way of looking at the horizon like he’s trying to solve a math problem. It’s charming, in a way.
The actual buffalo hunting scenes? They’re... something else. They keep cutting to stock footage that doesn't match the lighting or the film quality of the rest of the movie. It’s jarring. It’s like watching two different movies spliced together with a rusty pair of scissors.
There’s a moment where a character stares off-screen for a beat too long. You can almost hear the director whispering, "Okay, look sad now." It makes you realize how much work goes into making a silent stare feel real.
If you’re into the history of these things, it’s worth a look. It’s not as polished as something like The Cow Boys, but it’s got a weird, dusty heart. It reminded me a bit of the frantic pacing in Ladies of the Mob, even though they’re totally different genres. Don't ask me why.
It doesn't really land its emotional beats. The girlfriend being held captive? It feels like a chore for the plot to move from A to B. But honestly, who cares? The hats are great. The constant dust clouds are somehow soothing in a weird, 1930s-kinda-way. 🤠
Just don't go looking for deep character studies. It’s just people riding around, shouting, and occasionally shooting at things that aren't there. It’s messy, but at least it’s not trying to be a masterpiece.
