'High Plains Drifter (1973)' has got some dodgy sexual politics that can't go unmentioned. Aside from that, this is an enjoyable western that takes a revisionist stance and doesn't pull any punches. It doesn't try to reinvent or even comment on the genre - it's actually pretty standard aside from an interestingly ambiguous supernatural element - but still provides some fun sequences especially when Eastwood starts squinting and the bullets start flying. It may be showing its age more than others in the genre, but its dark approach makes it a worthwhile watch. 7/10

Critics and audiences made a huge deal over Unforgiven as being innovative and being a modern Western. Clint Eastwood did this in 1973 with High Plains Drifter. With set designs hearkening back to German Expressionism and filming techniques that employ Surrealism, this film was lost in the 70's cynical treatment of the Western as a genre and never got it's just dues. Those of us who love the Western will never pass up a chance to watch it in reruns. This was a Western that pulls no punches and all of the characters are despicable. Innovative, provocative, and uncompromising, High Plains Drifter was way ahead of its time for its filming technique, treatment of the anti-hero and the forerunner of many "revisionist" Westerns to come.

"You've had your face in the dirt for too long/Sweet revenge long overdue" ~Marc Almond, Hell Was a CityEastwood the Goth is at it again: the mysterious stranger that shows up out of nowhere and goes back to nowhere, the scars, the dreams, the nightmares, the doppelgangers and MY GOD - THE RED TOWN. There are more expensive productions today, there are green screens and anything could be made, but I've hardly seen anything as effective as this. It's not just the production design, the whole film is a dreamy mixture of comedy, western and Gothic horror. It's like the director's invitation to join him on a trip to hell and back. And you gladly accept!

This movie begins with a cowboy (played by Clint Eastwood) riding out of the desert heat into a small town called "Lago". He then goes into the only saloon in town where he encounters a problem with three cowboys but rather than get into it with them he decides to go to the barbershop for a shave. The three cowboys follow and upon provoking him they get shot for their efforts. Minutes later a woman named ""Callie Travers" (Marianna Hill) deliberately bumps into him on the street and then starts and berating him for no particular reason. One thing leads to another and eventually he drags her into a barn and proceeds to rape her. After that he heads to the local hotel to get a room where he immediately falls asleep on the bed and has a nightmare of being whipped to death in this same town while all of the townspeople look on. The next day "Sheriff Sam Shaw" (Walter Barnes) comes to see him and with the blessing of the town council offers him anything he wants if he will protect the town from three outlaws who are due to be released from prison and plan to ride into town in the next couple of days. But what the sheriff and the townspeople don't realize is that this particular cowboy has his own way of doing things and doesn't particularly care whether they like his methods or not. Not only that but he has a secret agenda of his own. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a very good—albeit highly unusual—type of Western with definite paranormal overtures. Again, this film is not a typical Western but I found it to be quite entertaining and I have rated it accordingly. Above average.