Pale Rider Reviews

A prospector's daughter has her prayers answered when a mysterious preacher with an uncanny knack for violence comes to town to defend her community from the ruthless land baron who threatens them. Pale Rider drops the otherworldly elements of High Plains Drifter into the plot of Shane to create yet another enjoyable revenge western from Clint Eastwood. The format is very familiar, but Clint brings his usual brand of steely eyed charisma to the screen and its difficult not to cheer for the "little guy" when taking on the might of the eminently hissable "man" in the shape of an amusingly villainous Richard Dysart. Chris Penn is maybe a little too young and boyish to make a suitable bad guy but Richard "Jaws" Kiel puts in a memorable cameo as a hired thug and the tense final showdown with a satanic set of mercenary law men is really well done. A little generic to be considered one of his very best, but it's still a finely crafted old school western with a supernatural slant.

Eastwood's iconic, death dealing stranger from nowhere stops to look back, tip his dusty hat in respect to a earlier shadow who came before and a long shadow at that, the shadow named Shane. Almost just as good.

Not one of Eastwood's better westerns. While I love the supernatural elements that Eastwood plays with here, he did it much more effectively in High Plains Drifter. This film is really bogged down by the acting. While Penn and Eastwood hold their own, the rest of the cast is downright unbearable at times. On top of this, the film is awkwardly paced and any time Eastwood gets momentum going, he distracts us with a poorly constructed scene. So if you wanna watch a western just to watch men act tough on the frontier, than look no further. However, if you want something more substantial, then look away.

Clint Eastwood returns as yet another nameless wanderer, this time into the mining town of LaHood. This movie breaks no new ground, its the same gritty western affair. But one can never get enough of Eastwood in his trademark drifter characters. \m/

High Plains Drifter lyte. A similar premise with supernatural implications and unmerciful vengeance.

A great story, good acting and a good script make this a very good Western. Shoddy directing and dodgy props demote it somewhat to just a good Western. it could have been better but it's still very entertaining. P.S. I met Richard Kiel and he is a very nice man.

Just too great of a premise and impossible not to love. Clint Eastwood does a perfect job in front and behind the camera. Unlike Unforgiven, this was a return to the traditional western and honors the universal themes. It's a lot like Shane in style and execution, but I feel that it's more than just a semi-remake. The Preacher gunslinger is in many ways a continuation of the folklore and supernatural elements that were briefly touched on in High Plains Drifter, but I think it works even better here. This is a good movie and one that all fans of the genre should enjoy. It's a combination of great storytelling and film-making.

a bit homely for a revenge style western, but pale rider has a decent story to carry it, an interesting lead character, and an absolutely excellent gun fight to close it out. a very good western.

Another great western starring and directed by Clint Eastwood. A preacher comes to the aid of a small town where the locals are hoping to strike gold. One of the better westerns around with a great shoot-out finale.

I gave this movie a little extra rating due to the fact that I really like the character Eastwood plays in the flick even though we know very little about him.
It's a very basic western story with a group trying to defend their land from the rich people who want it. Eastwood comes in and helps them keep what is theirs.
One of the things that makes this a little different is that much of the story is left out. There are hints that there is more to what we are seeing but the movie isn't here to tell that story. It focuses on the task at hand.
Normally I wouldn't care for that but it works here and I think it makes for a good watch.
Eastwood directs well and he should seeing how many westerns he has made over the years. He is one of the great film actors and directors of his time and I don't see him slowing up anytime soon.

Clint Eastwood's forgotten masterpiece.

Eastwood returned to his western film since "The Outlaw Josey Wales".

Another revisionist picture based on a dying genre that features a good story, and excellent direction/acting by Clint Eastwood. The cinematography was nice too.

Pale Rider is a true Western. It follows the rules that a traditional Western does, yet somehow manages to avoid most of the cliches. Sure, it doesn't really show us anything that we haven't seen before, but if you wanna watch Clint Eastwood shoot some guys up and save a town in the process, watch High Plains Drifter. Then watch Pale Rider.

"Pale Rider"... you've been down too long in the midnight sea. All must become enemies. But seriously though, When I heard that Clint Eastwood was doing a film called "Pale Rider", I said "That's about right" and now, I say that I'm especially glad that he did it, so that he could show just how graceful of a filmmaker he is. However his grace is damaged by overdrawn points, a cop-out ending and some weak performances. Still, the film features fine production designs, decent action sequences, a progressive increase in compellingness and mostly good performances. Also, what is with Eastwood that he has to one-up just about any standard of cinematography in any generation of film? Hey, I don't mind, just keep up the good work. Of course, the excellent cinematography isn't the only graceful element behind his direction.

Eastwood's direction is clever, elegent and boasts wit. Snappy dialogue and sharp, subtle comic-relief can be found throughout to break Eastwood's classy tension. Of course, that's not to say that it's not great to have the class there in the first place. He dives into the depth of the story as much as possible and leaves you facinated and even chilled when the time comes. Still, director Clint Eastwood can't provide tension alone. He must also thank... well... Clint Eastwood. But seriously though, Eastwood's acting performance once again carries the "Man With No Name" eeriness and mystery, but with a twist. He brings much charisma to create a suble, but notable human quality in his character that makes him even more mysterious and compelling.

Ultimately, "Pale Rider" is far from terribly special, but remains a witty, more graceful addition to Eastwood's Western filmography.

Pale Rider is a true Western. It follows the rules that a traditional Western does, yet somehow manages to avoid most of the cliches. Sure, it doesn't really show us anything that we haven't seen before, but if you wanna watch Clint Eastwood shoot some guys up and save a town in the process, watch High Plains Drifter. Then watch Pale Rider.

When a mining town is terrorized by a local tycoon (Richard Dysart) and hired goons, a young woman (Sydney Penny) prays for help. Her prayers are answered when a stranger that goes by the name Preacher (Clint Eastwood) shows up. He defends the town and it's people and gives them hope.

We all knew his characters well in the western genre, yet we can't help but be completely enamored by his screen presence and the raw quiet intensity he brings to the screen. And after his significantly long hiatus of creating films in the said genre, enter "Pale Rider", a film that combines the mystery of "High Plains Drifter" and the compassion of "The Outlaw Josey Wales". He took his good ol' ingredients and created a western film not set on humid landscapes of the far west, but icy hilltops, and an introduction of the protagonist not with one-sided gunslinging but a melee combat with clubs, a highly unusual opener in a film about a skillful gunman. It's also great to see Richard Kiel of "The Spy Who Loved Me" fame, again playing the noble giant role, which just happened to be on the wrong side. "Pale Rider's" build-up was very strong and does not falter, with a climactic showdown with a result that's although clinched, still delivers the rightful goods of a pure Eastwood western.

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Caught this on a.m.c last night. Well the summer is here and dont u know the t.v. has gotta suck! Well thank god for old Clint Movies. When i review these oldies that i see on the tube I usually put how i originally viewed them when i did for the first time, however this time i cant remeber it mustve been when it was released intially on v.h.s. Anyhow one of my faves of Clint's westerns. Good storyline and cast, with the exception of Chris Penn r.i.p. well he is gone now and i don't like to speak ill of the dead, so ill leave his acting abilities alione. Without leaving any spoilers, the ending rocks. this is another one of those western flicks that has him being reasonably quiet thru out and then he puts the hammer down. Was nicer and surprising to see Richard Kile in this ( he played jaws in the james bond movies) although he didnt last long lol. Over all a great flick from start to finish.