Review of The Great Silence (1968) by Cael M — 28 Jun 2013

The Great Silence is Sergio Corbucci's masterpiece and one of the best westerns ever created, and rather than following the traditional western formula of a desert setting, Corbucci uses a bleak, dark snow environment that is very different from any western ever made.

This movie focuses on a man named Silence who is trying to get revenge on sadistic bounty hunters led by a man named Loco to help aid a woman who's husband was killed by them. It's a haunting, realistic portrayal of the bounty hunters during its era, and it doesn't try to hide any of the brutality of its chilling setting.

It's powered by great performances all around, especially from Jean-Louis Trintignant as a mute man named Silence, and Klaus Kinski as the ruthless bounty hunter named Loco, as well as one of the best Ennio Morricone scores, beautiful cinematography of its frozen setting, and one of the darkest, haunting endings I've ever seen in a movie that left me completely speechless.

It's an extremely brilliant, powerful, and very depressing ending that sticks in your mind for a long time. This is like no other movie- it's unique and unconventional, and takes full advantage of its desolate, brutal snow-filled setting.

I wouldn't really say there are any real "heroes" in this movie, but Klaus Kinski as Loco is definitely the most twisted person here, and frequently steals the show. I love the themes portrayed in this movie, such as its realistic take on the idea of capitalism, as well as showing what bounty hunters are really like.

It criticizes the western society with great complexity, and it shows the impossibility of revolutions, as well as some symbolism to top it off. There's much to love about this spaghetti western, and it remains a high point of westerns in general.

It's truly a film that must be seen to be believed, and intelligently and perfectly portrays its bleak atmosphere in the most unconventional and unforgettable way possible.