High Plains Drifter (1973)

When a film begins with Clint Eastwood's 'Stranger with no name' riding into town, hat covering most of his expressionless face as the townsfolk look on, you know you're in for a real treat, and High Plains Drifter certainly does not let you down. The Stranger arrives with no obvious motives, when he is forced to demonstrate his gunslinger abilities not long after arriving, the town asks for his help to defend them from 3 men who are returning after being released from prison, who previously killed the last Sheriff and terrorised the community. This isn't the typical Spaghetti Western, although has all the traits there are a few twists which make it so much more. As the film goes on it appears the town has something more sinister underlying other than 3 brutal outlaws. I will say no more to avoid spoilers about the plot. Clint Eastwood is superb as ever with a role by this point in his career he was all very familiar with, everyone knows and talks of the Fistful of Dollars trilogy, which is truly fantastic and a must see, but High Plains Drifter became my all time favourite Western when I first watched it many years ago and it still stands the test of time today. The music and the setting is done so well to make you feel the atmosphere of how savage the wild west was and that human life had little value. As you have probably guess, this film gets the perfect score from me.

5 midgets to light your cigars out of 5