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6.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. West of Cheyenne remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like cowboys who squint a lot and horses that seem to know their marks better than the extras, you’ll probably have a decent time. If you need complex motives or, you know, a plot that doesn't feel like it was sketched on a napkin during lunch, you’re going to be bored to tears. It’s for the folks who want that specific, scratchy black-and-white comfort.
The whole thing kicks off with a framing job that’s so fast you almost miss it. One minute our rancher is minding his own business, and the next he's the most wanted man in the territory. It’s a bit like watching The Boss of Rustler's Roost, where the stakes are high but the acting is mostly just people standing in front of rocks shouting at each other.
I found myself staring at the background scenery more than the actual actors. There’s a particular rock formation that appears in three different scenes, but the movie tries to pretend we’re in totally new locations. It’s funny if you’re paying attention, which I clearly was, much to my own detriment.
Tom Tyler does his best to carry the weight here. He’s got that stoic jawline that was basically a requirement for the job back then. He doesn't say much, which is probably for the best given the script he was handed.
It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel, or even the wagon for that matter. It’s a Saturday afternoon filler that does the job. Sometimes that's enough, even if the ending feels like it was tacked on because they ran out of film stock or patience. I’ve seen worse, and I’ve certainly seen better, but there’s a strange honesty to how cheap it feels. 🐎🌵