Western movies often deal with themes of independence, assimilation, and rugged individualism. The films are sometimes interpreted as ringing endorsements of the myth of the American West. However, the darkest Westerns in the genre explore the issues with these stories and expose the deeper truths about the victims of these ideologies. Dark Westerns feature intense displays of violence and fast-paced action, but these serve to communicate the greater purpose of the plot and the filmmaker’s message. As thrilling as they are unsettling, these films push boundaries and define what audiences under the Western genre are.
The filmmakers and actors who are hallmarks of the Western movie were inclined to push boundaries and subvert the genres as their careers progressed.
The filmmakers and actors who are hallmarks of the Western movie were inclined to push boundaries and subvert the genres as their careers progressed. This is unsurprising, considering how much the West defines American cinema. The best villains in Clint Eastwood’s Western movies are part of the reason that Eastwood’s contributions to the genre remain so definitive. However, modern Westerns, like the underrated Westerns of the 2010s, are even more engaged with the contemporary social and political lenses that are used to dissect movies today. Critics and audiences have consistently recognized these Westerns as vital contributions.
|
Movie |
Rotten Tomatoes Score |
|
High Plains Drifter (1973) |
94% |
|
Bone Tomahawk (2015) |
91% |
|
The Power of the Dog (2021) |
94% |
|
The Proposition (2005) |
85% |
|
El Topo (1970) |
80% |
|
The Hateful Eight (2015) |
75% |
|
The Revenant (2015) |
78% |
|
No Country For Old Men (2007) |
93% |
|
There Will Be Blood (2007) |
91% |
|
The Searchers (1956) |
87% |
Related 10 Saddest Westerns Of All Time
While Westerns are typically known for their incredible action sequences & suave protagonists, many move audiences, bringing a tear to the eye.
10 High Plains Drifter (1973)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
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High Plains Drifter, directed by Clint Eastwood, follows a mysterious stranger who rides into the small town of Lago and is hired to protect it from outlaws. As he assumes control, his presence reveals the town’s dark secrets. Eastwood stars in this Western that explores themes of vengeance and morality. The film blends traditional Western elements with a haunting atmosphere and complex character dynamics.
Director Clint Eastwood Release Date April 6, 1973 Studio(s) The Malpaso Company Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Cast Clint Eastwood , Verna Bloom , Mariana Hill Runtime 105 Minutes Expand
Though
Unforgiven
is his magnum opus, Eastwood paints a darkly beautiful picture in
High Plains Drifter
.
It’s hard to say if Clint Eastwood is a better actor or director, but in High Plains Drifter, the audience doesn’t have to pick as Eastwood leads the cast and lends his expertise behind the camera. All his experience in Spaghetti Westerns prepared him for an illustrious career as a director. Though Unforgiven is his magnum opus, Eastwood paints a darkly beautiful picture in High Plains Drifter. His character, t he Stranger, is more than an antihero; he’s a violent and cruel man who uses his power and influence to take what he wants.
High Plains Drifter was well ahead of its time in its interrogation of the cowboy archetype and the use of the camera and cinematography to communicate that the Stranger isn’t the hero of the story. However, it’s impossible to look away from High Plains Drifter, as many of the men the Stranger comes up against are no better than he is. The film was unlike anything else that Hollywood was putting out during this time and propelled the Western genre forward into the new era of cinema.
9 Bone Tomahawk (2015)
Directed by S. Craig Zahler
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Bone Tomahawk is a Western film that follows Sheriff Franklin Hunt, who gathers together a group of fighters to save three kidnapped victims from a clan of cannibals. After the town’s doctor is kidnapped along with two others, forcing the sheriff to partner with the town’s Native American professor and find the tribe before it’s too late.
Director S. Craig Zahler Release Date October 23, 2015 Cast Patrick Wilson , Kurt Russell , Sean Young , Lili Simmons , Matthew Fox , Zahn McClarnon Runtime 132 minutes
Bone Tomahawk is as much a Western as it is a horror movie, as the graphic and unsettling depictions of violence are enough to turn the stomachs of the most strong-willed viewers. The film is led by an all-star cast, including Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, and Matthew Fox, but Russell is the star of the story. There’s much to discuss when it comes to Bone Tomahawk, as the story poses questions about the dynamic between so-called civilized society and how quickly this veneer falls away when survival is on the line.
Bone Tomahawk has been criticized for the villainization of Indigenous people in the West and for the intensely racist outlooks of the main characters. Part of Bone Tomahawk comments on what white settlers believed the West to be like and how their internalized bigotry informed the violence they felt comfortable perpetuating. Though the movie should doubtlessly be viewed through a critical lens, it takes on important conversations about the legacy of the West.
8 The Power Of The Dog (2021)
Directed by Jane Campion
The Power of the Dog 1
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The Power of the Dog is a Western drama film adapted from the novel by Thomas Savage. When a widow and her son move into a ranch, she captures the attention of a kindly gentleman named George, much to the chagrin of his brother, Phil. After they marry, Phil’s temper begins to flare, and he begins to torment the two – but his behavior may spell disaster when his new nephew’s darker side comes to light.
Director Jane Campion Release Date November 17, 2021 Studio(s) Netflix Cast Frances Conroy , Jesse Plemons , Kirsten Dunst , Thomasin McKenzie , Peter Carroll , Adam Beach , Kodi Smit-McPhee , Keith Carradine , Benedict Cumberbatch Runtime 126 minutes
Benedict Cumberbatch plays Phil, a misunderstood man dealing with misplaced aggression and dissatisfaction because the period and culture won’t let him express his desires and sexuality.
Too few Western films are directed by women, but Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog is a fantastically dark and poignant addition to the genre. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Phil, a misunderstood man dealing with misplaced aggression and dissatisfaction because the period and culture won’t let him express his desires and sexuality. This leads to an intense feud between himself and Rose (Kirsten Dunst), who marries his brother and disrupts Phil’s home and routine. While the viewer spends most of the film fearing Phil, he isn’t the only character with secrets.
Cumberbatch might be best known for playing Sherlock in the BBC’s modern TV series about the detective, but he slips right into the role of the cowboy in the Old West. Though there’s violence and betrayal throughout The Power of the Dog, the real tragedy is how the characters feel trapped by their situations and must do everything they can to escape them. The Power of the Dog interrogates the myth of American masculinity and how the archetype of the cowboy perpetuates that myth, as well as how damaging it is to everyone who comes in contact with it.
7 The Proposition (2005)
Directed by John Hillcoat
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The Proposition is a 2005 Australian Western film directed by John Hillcoat and written by Nick Cave. Set in the 1880s Outback, it stars Guy Pearce as an outlaw who is given a brutal ultimatum by a British lawman, played by Ray Winstone. Emily Watson and John Hurt also have significant roles. The film explores themes of justice, loyalty, and the harsh realities of frontier life.
Director John Hillcoat Release Date September 12, 2005 Studio(s) Surefire Films , Autonomous , Jackie O Productions , Pictures in Paradise , The Pacific Film and Television Commission , The Film Consortium Cast Guy Pearce , Ray Winstone , Danny Huston , John Hurt , David Wenham , Emily Watson Runtime 104 Minutes
Guy Pearce is unrecognizable in The Proposition as Charlie Burns, a man forced into an impossible situation because of the sins of his brothers. There are few characters to like and almost none to root for in The Proposition, as no one is innocent in committing and inciting violence and unrest in the uneasy community that has been built. The Proposition received praise for its nuanced depiction of the various identities and beliefs of the people who lived in Australia during this period.
While many audiences are familiar with American Westerns and Spaghetti Westerns, the Australian Western includes some of the best movies of the genre. The Proposition exemplifies what this facet of the Western film does best and exposes audiences unfamiliar with this aspect of Australian history to a narrative that mirrors the themes of the American West but pushes them even further. Though The Proposition pulls no punches in depicting the cruelty of its characters, it also passes little judgment on the people forced into situations from which there’s no escape.
6 El Topo (1970)
Directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky
El Topo Western
El Topo, directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky, is a surreal Western that follows a mysterious gunslinger on a quest for spiritual enlightenment. Set against the backdrop of a desolate landscape, the film explores themes of morality, religion, and redemption through a series of allegorical encounters and trials. Renowned for its avant-garde style, El Topo has gained a cult following for its unique blend of mysticism and brutality.
Director Alejandro Jodorowsky Release Date December 18, 1970 Studio(s) Producciones Panicas Cast Alejandro Jodorowsky , Brontis Jodorowsky , Mara Lorenzio , David Silva , Paula Romo , Jacqueline Luis Runtime 124 Minutes
El Topo
is deeply entrenched in themes of religion and spirituality, with most of the plot points and character’s experiences feeling more like a dream than actual events.
Alejandro Jodorowsky is an iconic and controversial director, and El Topo, a movie he directed and stars in, is no exception to the surrealist and violent themes he explores in his work. El Topo is deeply entrenched in themes of religion and spirituality, with most of the plot points and character’s experiences feeling more like a dream than actual events. Critical and audience opinion on El Topo has shifted over time, with many coming to appreciate Jodorowsky’s experimental style, even if it is filled with exploitative imagery.
When watching El Topo and Jodorowsky’s other work, it’s up to the audience to determine their own interpretation of the meaning behind the intensity of the story and the visuals onscreen. However, its influence on experimental and surrealist cinema cannot be overlooked, as many famed directors have been inspired by El Topo and its interest in fanaticism and the supposed path to enlightenment. Though El Topo features the imagery and visuals of the Western genre, it transcends it in subject and tone.
5 The Hateful Eight (2015)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
The Hateful Eight 4
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Quentin Tarantino’s 2015 Western incorporates elements of the mystery and thriller genres. Set in 1877, The Hateful Eight follows eight strangers who seek refuge from a blizzard in an isolated stagecoach stopover. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, and Channing Tatum, The Hateful Eight was inspired by the Western TV shows of 1960s.
Director Quentin Tarantino Release Date December 25, 2015 Studio(s) The Weinstein Company , Shiny Penny , Film Colony , Double Feature Films , Visiona Romantica Cast Zoe Bell , Jennifer Jason Leigh , Michael Madsen , Tim Roth , Channing Tatum , Bruce Dern , Kurt Russell , Samuel L. Jackson , Walton Goggins , James Parks Runtime 188 Minutes
The Western movies by Quentin Tarantino are an important facet of his career and have often been lightning rods for criticism because of Tarantino’s violent and controversial style. However, regardless of the audience or critical opinion of Tarantino, the director is skilled at toeing the line between nihilistic and incredibly fun. While The Hateful Eight ends in a bloodbath and provides no happily ever after, it’s able to find humor and excitement in its darkness, making the project more palatable.
When watching a Tarantino movie, especially The Hateful Eight, it’s obvious that the director holds a deep respect and reverence for the Western films that influenced him and wants to do justice to the genre. However, there’s still plenty of action and complex plotting for casual fans to find just as much enjoyment in the work as film buffs. The stakes and tension of The Hateful Eight are heightened by the fact that most of the film takes place within one room.
4 The Revenant (2015)
Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu
The Revenant 2
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Inspired by the true events in the life of Hugh Glass, The Revenant is an action-drama movie that sees Leonardo DiCaprio in the starring role. Betrayed and left for dead by one of the members of his hunting group, Glass finds himself contending with some of the harshest elements imaginable while tending to his deadly wounds, as his will to carry on and need for revenge push him to carry on in this gripping tale of survival.
Director Alejandro González Iñárritu Release Date December 25, 2015 Studio(s) 20th Century Cast Will Poulter , Leonardo DiCaprio , Paul Anderson , Tom Hardy , Domhnall Gleeson Runtime 156minutes
It’s a harrowing journey and sees DiCaprio’s character experience the worst nightmare of a different group of people during this period.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance in The Revenant is one of the greatest portrayals of real-life people in Western movies, and it won him the Oscar for Best Actor in 2016. The film draws on the stories of the experience of the man Hugh Glass. In 1823, a bear mauled Glass, but he survived. It’s a harrowing journey and sees DiCaprio’s character experience the worst nightmare of a different group of people during this period. There are no cowboys or gunslingers in The Revenant, only the sheer force of nature.
The Revenant is an interesting example of a movie that truly pits man against nature, as many Westerns use their narratives as a metaphor for the so-called “taming” of the West. However, there’s also plenty of conflict between Glass and the other individuals trying to make their living off the land. Additionally, The Revenant is in tune with the use of stunning visuals that emphasize the rugged and unforgiving terrain that most invading settlers had no idea how to navigate or respect.
3 No Country For Old Men (2007)
Directed by Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
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No Country for Old Men is a western crime-thriller based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy and directed by the Cohen Brothers. Following three protagonists, the film centers around a large $2,000,000+ cache of dirty money lost near the Rio Grande. With a veteran who finds it, a hitman who will stop at nothing to get it, and a sheriff trying to investigate the crimes connected to it, all roads lead to death and mayhem as they find themselves in each other’s crosshairs.
Director Joel Coen , Ethan Coen Release Date November 21, 2007 Studio(s) MiraMax Cast Kelly Macdonald , Woody Harrelson , Josh Brolin , Javier Bardem , Tommy Lee Jones Runtime 122 minutes
The Coen Brothers’ masterpiece, No Country for Old Men, is based on the Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name and demonstrates how influential the Coens have been in creating the modern Western. Featuring Javier Bardem’s best role as the vicious and terrifying Anton Chigurh,No Country for Old Men was a massive critical and commercial success. The neo-Western is still a budding genre, but few have been capable of capturing how the spirit of the West translates to contemporary eras with the skill of the Coen Brothers.
The film is set in the 1980s, a period that lends itself to the anonymity of the past while grappling with the encroaching modernization of the future. No Country for Old Men blends aspects of the crime thriller genre with Western movies to create a compelling and violent chase across the West. Each character is put through the wringer in No Country for Old Men, and the relentless nature of the violence would be too much if not for the amazing filmmaking that brings the story to life.
2 There Will Be Blood (2007)
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
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Loosely based on an Upton Sinclair novel, and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood follows Daniel Plainview, a ruthless entrepreneur and oil man who, in his quest to run a successful oil business, slowly descends into crime and corruption and alienates everyone around him. Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Plainview, alongside co-stars Paul Dano, Kevin J. O’Connor, and Ciarán Hinds.
Director Paul Thomas Anderson Release Date December 26, 2007 Studio(s) MiraMax Cast Daniel Day-Lewis , Russell Harvard , Ciarán Hinds , Dillon Freasier , Paul Dano , Kevin J. O’Connor Runtime 158 minutes
Money and power are the driving forces behind Plainview’s actions, as he represents the modernization of the West.
Also released in 2007 and including career-defining performances from its actors, There Will Be Blood was No Country for Old Men‘s chief competition the year both films were released. However, they’re completely different takes on the West and the way it transforms people. There Will Be Blood is a sweeping character study of Daniel Plainview, played by Daniel Day-Lewis at his best, and harkens back to the traditional epics of Old Hollywood. Money and power are the driving forces behind Plainview’s actions, as he represents the modernization of the West.
Though No Country for Old Men beat There Will Be Blood for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, this hasn’t diminished the popularity or acclaim of the film. The scale of There Will Be Blood is enough to astound the audience, as Plainview is consumed by his desire for notoriety and the security that accompanies absolute power. However, in his quest, he loses everything that once made him human and is destroyed by his own greed and self-hatred.
Related 10 Western Movies Where The Villains Actually Win
While the Western genre has precious few movies where the villains emerge victorious, this subversive twist does show up on some rare occasions.
1 The Searchers (1956)
Directed by John Ford
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The Searchers is a 1956 Western drama starring John Wayne. Wayne stars as Ethan Edwards, who goes searching for his missing niece after his brother’s family is killed by the Comanche tribe. Helmed by director John Ford, The Searchers is now considered one of the greatest American Westerns ever made.
Director John Ford Release Date March 13, 1956 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Cast John Wayne Runtime 119minutes
John Ford and John Wayne collaborated many times on the movies that essentially created the Western genre, but The Searchers might be their most important project. Instead of a rugged and handsome cowboy, Wayne plays Ethan Edwards, a man unwilling to change or compromise as the world evolves around him. On a single-minded quest to save his young niece, Ethan becomes a monster and upends his own life and relationships, trying to find someone who ultimately doesn’t want to be found.
As time has progressed, The Searchers has come to be considered one of the greatest movies of its period and is regarded as a brilliant take on the hero archetype of the West. Wayne plays Ethan perfectly, as the aging star is able to capture the fear of being left behind and the terror at the world becoming unrecognizable in front of him. For such an early film, The Searchers paints a more nuanced and complex picture than most movies of the era of the relationship between invading white settlers and Indigenous Americans.