Review of High Plains Drifter (1973) by Jim S — 03 Aug 2007
"You're going to look pretty silly with that knife sticking out of your ass." Clint Eastwood takes the 'John Wayne' western of the 50's and 60's and turns it on its head. These are not the peaceful, benevolent frontiers people of the romanticized 'old west'.
The townsfolk of Largo are scared, weak, conspiring, evil people who will stand by willingly watching a good man be murdered in order to save their own skins and town. A lesson in morality is provided by 'the stranger' who drinks, spits and shoots with the best of them.
An eerie mood permeates the film from beginning to end in which the lead character takes clever revenge on the entire town, literally painting it 'red' and accurately labeling it as 'HELL'.
The brilliant opening leaves the viewer never really knowing it 'the stranger' is a relative of the slain sheriff or the ghost of said law enforcement officer. At the end of the film we still don't know.
This is a raw and real picture that is one of the best westerns of all time.
This review of High Plains Drifter (1973) was written by Jim S on 03 Aug 2007.
High Plains Drifter has generally received very positive reviews.
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