Clint Eastwood’s Gritty “High Plains Drifter” on Prime Video
Clint Eastwood’s second directorial venture, “High Plains Drifter,” buried the American Western in brutality. Stream this ultraviolent FSK-18 thriller on Prime Video.
Clint Eastwood, famous for his stoic, cigarillo-smoking, and dead-eye gunslingers in Sergio Leone’s classics like “A Fistful of Dollars,” “For a Few Dollars More,” and “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” became an icon of the Spaghetti Western genre. In 1973, with only his second directorial effort, “High Plains Drifter,” after “Play Misty for Me,” Eastwood took a savage, cruel, and bloody approach to the genre that once catapulted him to stardom.
“High Plains Drifter” was once banned due to its nihilistic violence and cruelty. While it’s no longer on the banned list, it still carries a well-deserved FSK-18 rating. You can currently stream this 1970s powerhouse on Amazon Prime Video.
What’s “High Plains Drifter” About?
A nameless stranger (Clint Eastwood) rides into the small, waterside town of Lago. The suspicious townsfolk, who ultimately reveal themselves to be cowards, initially eye him warily. However, when the stranger takes it upon himself to rid the town of a gang of criminals, they desperately want him to stay.
Soon, a group of outlaws, fresh out of prison and seeking revenge for their year-long incarceration, is expected in town. Terrified, the townspeople ask the stranger for help in their fight against the gang and grant him full authority. After some hesitation, he agrees.
A Dark Violent Frenzy
Although “High Plains Drifter” was only Clint Eastwood’s second directorial work, he never delved into brutality quite like this again. This ghostly Western features an enigmatic man who emerges from the shimmering desert haze like a mirage. From the start, it’s clear his primary motivation is violence.
While it may seem that Clint Eastwood’s ghost rider wants to save a helpless village, his true drive is pure selfishness. When he draws his revolver, it’s not to help but to satisfy his own desires, primarily revenge and often sadism. This leads to a powerful deconstruction of the romanticized John Wayne-style Western, but it also presents significant issues.
While “High Plains Drifter” showcases Eastwood’s undeniable directorial talent and progresses with a grimness that still surprises today, its portrayal of women is troubling. It perpetuates a problematic cult of masculinity, with the main character committing sexual assault, leaving victims hopelessly enamored even after the act of humiliation.
Despite these issues, “High Plains Drifter” ultimately succeeds as a profoundly dark and ruggedly violent Western. Eastwood’s craftsmanship shines, particularly in the almost surreal, delirious compositions of the climactic scenes. The film boldly exposes all the ugliness, immorality, and harshness of this (still somewhat) lawless era without flinching—an unapologetic cinematic monster.