High Plains Drifter

I've been on a Clint Eastwood western kick lately. Among my favorites is High Plains Drifter. This movie is somewhat unique in that it's the only one I've seen that can almost be called a supernatural western.

Eastwood plays the typical reserved badass gunslinger, but in this movie there's a real point to that portrayal. Eastwood seems to be some sort of avenging spirit of a man who was unjustly killed by the towns people. When Eastwood shows up, the towns people seek help from him to protect them against those they scapegoated for the crime who are now returning from jail.

Eastwood has plans in mind for the both the men seeking revenge on the townspeople, and the townspeople themselves. By the end of the movie, almost nobody comes out unscathed.

This movie is an excellent and unconventional take on the traditional western theme of a noble gunslinger cleaning up a dirty town.