Rating of
2/4
Eastwood reaps vengeance w/ no mercy to spare
Indyfreak - wrote on 07/06/22
Clint Eastwood plays a sinister gunslinger that agrees to protect a mining town from a vicious gang of outlaws. But on his terms and it's clear the townsfolk are not as innocent as they make themselves out to be. The tone is far darker and moody than Eastwood's earlier westerns which already earned attention for their cynical edge. When violence breaks out, it seems more sadistic and brutal than exciting and heroic. Eastwood is not bad though it's not much different from his other stoic roles. Some of the supporting cast members leave an impression such as Marianna Hill as an unpleasant shrew or Billy Curtis as the Drifter's sidekick. The movie is a change of pace from Eastwood's other westerns (and he'll revisit similar themes in Pale Rider). But it's not necessarily fun to watch.
