I'll start out by saying that this film did not have the greatest director or editor in the world but the outcome was a film full of thrills.
From the very beginning we are introduced to variations of pretty unlikable and ruthless people. Brandt Ruger (Gene Hackman)is a rich farmer who clearly doesn't give a damn about his wife (Candice Bergen). After he have left on a hunting trip, his wife who helps out the school teacher is kidnapped by a gang of outlaws so she can teach their leader Frank (Oliver Reed) to read. Apparently he wants to become a bigger man and reading is the next step. He have of course no idea that the womans husband is even scarier than his whole gang combined.
After stumping cigarettes on a Chinese hooker and having a pretty fun night Brandt is awaken by the news. Infuriated and equipped with the long range rifles he and his rich pals for a hunting party with the mission to kill the entire gang and save his wife.
This must be one of the darkest films ever made. It could best be described as misanthropic. I felt a complete rush while watching this. As the hunting party starts their game everything can happen and the suspense is extreme. Incredibly entertaining and completely uninterested in the worth of a human life. This film is more merciless than The Wild Bunch.
This is most certainly a film about anger and revenge! And what this may cause. It shows violence for what it is: Ugly and brutal! I can see why this has such a low rating. A lot of people will obviously reject such material but if your a fan of The Great Silence, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, Rabid Dogs and films of this kind it's most definitely for you. A great story indeed. A must for fans of western and grit.
From the very beginning we are introduced to variations of pretty unlikable and ruthless people. Brandt Ruger (Gene Hackman)is a rich farmer who clearly doesn't give a damn about his wife (Candice Bergen). After he have left on a hunting trip, his wife who helps out the school teacher is kidnapped by a gang of outlaws so she can teach their leader Frank (Oliver Reed) to read. Apparently he wants to become a bigger man and reading is the next step. He have of course no idea that the womans husband is even scarier than his whole gang combined.
After stumping cigarettes on a Chinese hooker and having a pretty fun night Brandt is awaken by the news. Infuriated and equipped with the long range rifles he and his rich pals for a hunting party with the mission to kill the entire gang and save his wife.
This must be one of the darkest films ever made. It could best be described as misanthropic. I felt a complete rush while watching this. As the hunting party starts their game everything can happen and the suspense is extreme. Incredibly entertaining and completely uninterested in the worth of a human life. This film is more merciless than The Wild Bunch.
This is most certainly a film about anger and revenge! And what this may cause. It shows violence for what it is: Ugly and brutal! I can see why this has such a low rating. A lot of people will obviously reject such material but if your a fan of The Great Silence, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, Rabid Dogs and films of this kind it's most definitely for you. A great story indeed. A must for fans of western and grit.