From Shane Conto

Is Clint Eastwood the king of the Western? There is a strong case to be made between him and screen legend John Wayne. The Duke certainly held that title throughout the 40s and 50s as he starred in some of the most important films of the genre. But Eastwood became the stoic and gritted new face to an evolving genre in the 60s through the 90s as he led some of the most iconic Spaghetti Westerns ever made (from legendary director Sergio Leone). But it was when he took the reins himself that he began to explore the possibilities of this matured genre. 

Have you ever seen a supernatural Western before? For a genre labeled as formulaic and tired, the Western certainly has some new avenues to explore. That is exactly what Clint Eastwood accomplished with his 1973 film, High Plains Drifter. Unless you are well versed in the history of this genre, this is a Western unlike any you have seen before. It would be a disservice to you as an audience to get into exactly what makes this a “supernatural” story because that would ruin all the surprises of this brutal and visceral film. Eastwood as a director was the “son” of two “fathers”. This one is one Spaghetti Western in the stylings of Leone. This is born of Don Siegel’s influence. 

Why do Siegel’s influences make this a must see film? He was a director who lived and died by the new 70s way of film. His films like Dirty Harry and The Beguiled are complex morally in a way that only 70s cinema can be. So is High Plains Drifter. There is not a brave and honorable protagonist. Eastwood’s drifter is someone we should not be admired. What he does in his first moments in the film are detestable. But you are challenged to follow in his footsteps and see how he engages with this small isolated town. A town that will soon be visited by even more detestable men (criminals themselves) seeking revenge. This is a tale of vengeance and it hits you like a sledgehammer.

What are the two main selling points of Eastwood’s unorthodox Western? The first is the visual experience. There are few films with such a visceral and striking look to them. We expected something from the Western genre. The big scale and beauty of a John Ford film is the trademark. Or the striking colors and framing of a Leone. But Eastwood creates something chilling and gritty with High Plains Drifter. The climax of the film is one of the most haunting experiences you will find in a Western. This captures the spirit of 70s filmmaking in not only the themes but also the filmmaking. 

The other? Those themes will dig into you deeply. This film is about us. It is about society and the horrors we can afflict. The Drifter is a mirror of us coming in to put upon us the evils we perpetrate. This is not a film for those looking for easy entertainment or a feel good story. High Plains Drifter is a challenging experience for those seeking to see what a committed artist can do with a tired genre and inject thought-provoking and unnerving themes into it. You must take a look at yourself and think about “what would you do…or would have done”. This journey all builds to something impactful and striking by the end in quite an unexpected way. 

Is High Plains Drifter worth your time? For sure. But it is not for everyone. You will also have to witness some seriously challenging things that you might not have expected. But this is a striking and haunting cinematic experience that will have you glued from start to finish. This directorial effort proves to be a unique and compelling fixture in Eastwood filmography.

You can find High Plains Drifters (1973) streaming on Netflix. 

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