High Plains Drifter

Kazaanova

I've only ever watched a western film three times, and I've seen High Plains Drifter twice. When I was a kid I just thought it was cool, watching it again now, WOW. It unfolds into a brilliant revenge story. Its so dark and chilling, just amazing. As just a western, its good, but when you understand everything thats going on, its pure movie brilliance. I don't want to spoil it, but it never says something out loud, it never says that one word. You have to put it all together yourself. And although theres super natural elements there, you take them very seriously because the film never says it out right, and it sells itself dead seriously as just a normal western. Fantastic film.

TerrorFirmer

Kazaanova wrote:

I've only ever watched a western film three times, and I've seen High Plains Drifter twice. When I was a kid I just thought it was cool, watching it again now, WOW. It unfolds into a brilliant revenge story. Its so dark and chilling, just amazing. As just a western, its good, but when you understand everything thats going on, its pure movie brilliance. I don't want to spoil it, but it never says something out loud, it never says that one word. You have to put it all together yourself. And although theres super natural elements there, you take them very seriously because the film never says it out right, and it sells itself dead seriously as just a normal western. Fantastic film.

Is this the one where:

He paints the town red, and in the end, hangs one of the bad guys by a whip outside the saloon?

If so, fantastic film Been years since I saw it though...

bonzai bob

i'm not a fan of westerns, but my ma's love of John Wayne has forced me to see a few, some were REALLY good, like 'The Searchers', 'True Grit' etc.

Ramses

Kazaanova wrote:

I've only ever watched a western film three times, and I've seen High Plains Drifter twice. When I was a kid I just thought it was cool, watching it again now, WOW. It unfolds into a brilliant revenge story. Its so dark and chilling, just amazing. As just a western, its good, but when you understand everything thats going on, its pure movie brilliance. I don't want to spoil it, but it never says something out loud, it never says that one word. You have to put it all together yourself. And although theres super natural elements there, you take them very seriously because the film never says it out right, and it sells itself dead seriously as just a normal western. Fantastic film.

Great film. Agree with you entirely. Clint Eastwood is great as the stranger. One of the best westerns I've ever seen.

Sgtshaft

Gota agree, drifter is a great movie just watched it again last night on tv but I think Clints best westerns in my opinion are.

1. Unforgiven (best western ever)
2. Outlaw Jose Wales
3. Good the Bad and the Ugly
4. Fistful of Dollars
5. High Plains Drifter

Honourable mention: The Beguiled (not exactly a western)

Running Bing

If you liked high plains drifter check out some sergio leone westerns. Especially the dollars trilogy (fistful of dollars, for a few dollars more, the good,tb,tu). Not only some of the greatest westerns ever made but imo some of the greatest movies ever made.

Kazaanova

MobileInfantry wrote:

Is this the one where:

He paints the town red, and in the end, hangs one of the bad guys by a whip outside the saloon?

If so, fantastic film Been years since I saw it though...

Yes thats the one. I've been meaning the watch the entire Dollar trilogy, I know I would like it. I just really liked this film because of the twist.

echomadman

Once upon a time in the west has similar supernatural undertones, it's one of my favourite movies ever, the sound design and music in it are spectacular and the dialogue is minimal to say the least.

patch

Fans of High plains drifter should check out Pale Rider.
Similar feel, but not as good.
As metioned by a previous poster, The Beguiled is great too, an ignored at the time dark movie where Eastwood was streching his legs a bit.

nadir

great film, josey wales was prolly my fav
or for a fistfull of dollars maybe.

mad m

Yeah its a good one,got it tonight actually to look at.Great fella Eastwood,only in town a few minutes and blows away three blokes and then blows up the local bike.