Carlos André I'm starting my journey through the Western genre, High Plains Drifter is maybe the first classic that I watched, and is really good.My only issue with the movie is just some things that I thought were "silly", like almost every scene the "stranger" gives a deep look to other people, but is ok, I get it, is probably a common thing at the time. The majority of the cast is good, I just thought that Marianna Hill's performance was really over the top throught almost the entire movie. There are some really cool scenes, Clint Eastwood character is the definition of "badass" for almost the entire film, the soundtrack is simple, but very good too. The script is good, even though some dialogues sound weird some times. Well, I think that probably my main issue with the filme would be "why he did all shity things with the folks down there?", e some weird shit to, like painting all the houses with red, wtf? Buuut, ate the end, for me, was clear that Clint character was something related to the dead guy (Jim Duncan), some mystical thing, like the ghost of the dead man, his soul or something like that, and, with that in mind, this previous issue of mine, doesn't apply anymore, so, it's ok, everything makes sense at the end.In short, High Plains Drifter is a great western, isn't a long filme, so is easy to watch, and have that old school cinema felling that (unless for me) is always great to feel.8,5/10

beckr1 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.

jovana-13676 "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!

Leofwine_draca HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER is the first western that Clint Eastwood starred in that he also directed himself. While he gives a typically great performance as the titular character, the real surprise here comes from his matured, stylish direction that would have you thinking he'd been making these films for twenty years beforehand. This is an eerie western, laced through with violent flashbacks and an increasingly hellish atmosphere as it tells the story of corrupt townsfolk who watched a man die at the hands of three violent outlaws.It's one of those films where my attention was gripped for every moment. Eastwood doesn't play a likable character at all – he starts off by raping a woman – but the reason for that gradually becomes clear as the film progresses. The supporting cast of ne'er-do-wells is fine, although nobody gives a stand-out performance (apart from Billy Curtis as the kooky, lovable dwarf, Mordecai). Geoffrey Lewis pops up in an early role as one of the bad guys.The direction is superlative and the script avoids the typical clichés for the most part. I paid particular attention to the soundtrack, which combines eerie, dramatic effects with excellent music. The ending is one of those ones that actually exceeds audience expectations in terms of the dramatic tension, excitement, and plain good ol' fashioned filmmaking it excels in. This may not be Eastwood's best, but it sure as heck is up there with the best of them.