The Lawless

A prescient vision of Donald Trump's future USA. Everything could do with being a little darker, a little sharper, a little more vicious and a lot more cynical, but what we get is still a very strong film.

The Lawless (1950) puts on a great showcase on how misinformation and racially charged aggression can turn a small town into a lynching frenzy. Just as relevant today as it was then. Seems nothing has changed in 70-plus years.

Appeals to my liberal sensibilities with its condemnation of mob justice, media hysteria and racial intolerance. It's an engaging story. However, it's not very elegant in its execution. The performances are very flat. The photography and score are serviceable at best, only a few shots are interesting. And it's all handled rather clumsily, you can hear the nails being struck as the points are hammered home. I like where the film's heart is at, but similar themes are done better elsewhere.