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Pale Rider

Pale Rider

Western · Drama · 1985

A mysterious preacher protects a humble prospector village from a greedy mining company trying to encroach on their land.

Movie details

Pale Rider

“...and hell followed with him.”

1985 Western · Drama 1h 55m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

A mysterious preacher protects a humble prospector village from a greedy mining company trying to encroach on their land.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Pale Rider?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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El Dorado

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The Missouri Breaks

The Missouri Breaks

Western · 1976

When vigilante land baron David Braxton hangs one of the best friends of cattle rustler Tom Logan, Logan's gang decides to get even by purchasing a small farm next to Braxton's ranch. From there the rustlers begin stealing horses, using the farm as a front for their operation. Determined to stop the thefts at any cost, Braxton retains the services of eccentric sharpshooter Robert E. Lee Clayton, who begins ruthlessly taking down Logan's gang.

Joe Kidd

Joe Kidd

Western · 1972

A band of Mexicans find their U. S. land claims denied and all the records destroyed in a courthouse fire. Their leader, Louis Chama, encourages them to use force to regain their land. A wealthy landowner wanting the same decides to hire a gang of killers with Joe Kidd to track Chama.

High Plains Drifter

High Plains Drifter

Western · 1973

A gunfighting stranger comes to the small settlement of Lago. After gunning down three gunmen who tried to kill him, the townsfolk decide to hire the Stranger to hold off three outlaws who are on their way.

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An aging group of outlaws look for one last big score as the "traditional" American West is disappearing around them.

The Hateful Eight

The Hateful Eight

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Bounty hunters seek shelter from a raging blizzard and get caught up in a plot of betrayal and deception.

True Grit

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Drama · 2010

Following the murder of her father by a hired hand, a 14-year-old farm girl sets out to capture the killer. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. Marshal she can find—a man with 'true grit'—Reuben J. 'Rooster' Cogburn.

Old Henry

Old Henry

Western · 2021

A widowed farmer and his son warily take in a mysterious, injured man with a satchel of cash. When a posse of men claiming to be the law come for the money, the farmer must decide who to trust. Defending a siege of his homestead, the farmer reveals a talent for gun-slinging that surprises everyone calling his true identity into question.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Clint Eastwood

Written by

Michael Butler · Dennis Shryack

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood

Preacher

Michael Moriarty

Michael Moriarty

Hull Barret

Carrie Snodgress

Carrie Snodgress

Sarah Wheeler

Chris Penn

Chris Penn

Josh LaHood

Richard Dysart

Richard Dysart

Coy LaHood

S

Sydney Penny

Megan Wheeler

Richard Kiel

Richard Kiel

Club

Court is in session

Put Pale Rider on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.