Hell on the Border (2019)

This movie begs the question of whether it is possible to enjoy a movie that also makes you angry? There’s actually a great true story at the root of this movie, that unfortunately gets second class treatment. It opens with a terrific quote about the disturbing lack of movies about black cowboys before telling the story of the first black Deputy US Marshal in the old west. But despite a compelling premise, you can’t help be struck by the fact that what should have been an A-list movie with an A-list cast ended up with a B-to-D-list cast and direction and cinematography befitting a TV movie,. And don’t get me started on a modern soundtrack that totally misses the  mark by attempting to play to the audience rather than frame the film. Even so. it’s an enjoyable watch, even if you’re spending much of the movie thinking “what might/should have been!”.