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Pale Rider
1985 115 min United States of America R 16+
★7.4
Western, Drama
Director: Clint Eastwood
Trailers
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Description
A mysterious preacher protects a humble prospector village from a greedy mining company trying to encroach on their land.
Budget:
$6.9M
US Gross:
$41.41M
Worldwide:
$41.4M
Starring
Clint Eastwood
Actor
Michael Moriarty
Actor
Carrie Snodgress
Actor
Awards
Cannes Film Festival 1985
— Palme d'Or
Key opinion
Pale Rider is widely regarded as a skillful and atmospheric Western that leans into established genre tropes with stylistic confidence. While some critics find the plot predictable or overly simple, Eastwood's commanding screen presence and the film's polished direction elevate it into a solid, memorable entry in his filmography.
| Acting | Clint Eastwood dominates the film with an authoritative, stoic performance that carries the narrative. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography effectively captures the brutal yet vivid beauty of the frontier landscape. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is praised for its thematic depth and mythic resonance, yet criticized for relying on a simple and predictable plot. | |
| Score | Opinions on the musical score are divided, with some finding it atmospheric and others characterizing it as unexpressive compared to classic Western soundtracks. | |
| Acting | The casting of secondary characters and female roles is often viewed as forgettable and secondary to Eastwood's central performance. |