HIGH LONESOME

Cinemavixion Review

Alan Le May's 1950 Western, "High Lonesome," is a tense and atmospheric mystery set against the stark beauty of Texas' Big Bend country. The film masterfully builds suspense as a series of murders throws suspicion onto a young drifter, known only as Cooncat, recently arrived in the area. John Drew Barrymore delivers a compelling performance as the enigmatic youth, whose troubled past and fragmented memories blur the lines between innocence and guilt. The narrative skillfully weaves a tale of suspicion, family feuds, and the haunting echoes of past violence, with the imposing landscape serving as a silent, watchful character. While the film may not boast the sprawling epics of its contemporaries, "High Lonesome" offers a tightly-plotted, character-driven drama that rewards patient viewing with its intricate plot and brooding mood. It's a compelling piece of early 1950s filmmaking that delves into the darker aspects of human nature and the weight of inherited conflict.