Boobirt
Stylish but barely mediocre overall
Protraph
Lack of good storyline.
Helllins
It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.
Billie Morin
This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows
remo4512
I must admit I first heard of this movie after playing the game Red Dead Revolver for the PlayStation, as the game producers used the Stranger's theme song during one of the levels. I thought the tune was pretty cool, and scoured the internet for its name, and then came upon a website dedicated to spaghetti westerns. When I first saw shots of this film on the site, I was a bit apprehensive that Tony Anthony could actually pull off being a hero in one of these films. Then I bought the film off Amazon along with its sequel "The Stranger Returns." At first, I couldn't get into Anthony. He reminded me of a Mob informant from Jersey on TV crime dramas from the 70s rather than a cool and calm spaghetti western hero. But, when he gets the living daylights beaten out of him and goes on the rampage, my view changed. I have to say this is one of my all-time favorite films, along with its sequels and the immortal 'Blindman'. It's no Leone work, that's for sure, but it has its own unique quality. It's simple and violent, and I think that's all that really matters. If you're looking for something like Unforgiven or Open Range, move on. But if you want a bare-bones precursor to action films, this may float your boat.
whpratt1
This is a very unusual film dealing with a stranger, (Tony Anthony) who has a double reason for picking out this lonely abandoned looking town and finds some tough and rough looking characters who are really a bunch of cut-throats. The Stranger is looking for wanted men for a reward and also a gold shipment which is suppose to take place in this town. The Stranger keeps hidden and manages to watch everyone, even a woman who is a bi-sexual woman who has a man named Aguilar, (Frank Wolff) and a young girl with a baby. The Stranger gets caught and he makes a deal with Aguilar to give them some of the gold when it comes to town. There is very little conversation throughout this film and sometimes long periods of silence which keeps you anxious as to who is going to be beaten to death or killed. Don't miss this film, it has a great musical score and it seems like a film you have seen with Clint Eastwood as the star. Enjoy.
boblipton
Although this movie has a reputation of being absolutely awful -- apparently Roger Ebert rates it a bomb -- and, while it is clearly a rip-off in every imaginable way of the Leone-Eastwood collaborations, down to Tony Anthony -- playing 'The Stranger' dressing in a poncho -- the technical work on this movie is quite decent and makes for a pleasant enough afternoon. The cinematography by Marcello Masciocchi is top notch; in fact, the long, dialogue-free sections of the movie flow very well, thanks to the camera-work and the editing, for which we can credit Maurizio Lucidi, who later went on to helm a few movies.If the story holds few surprises for fans of Sergio Leone -- well, when did Westerns ever do much in the way of innovation? Go see this movie for the traditional strengths of a western -- which means a decent show and some beautiful pictures -- and you'll have a good time. Not every movie must be a great classic, after all.
spider89119
This movie rocks! Tony Anthony is the other "man with no name." He is great in this movie. His performance is every bit as good as Eastwood in "A fistful of Dollars," but he'll never get as much recognition because he's not a square-jawed pretty-boy like Clint. Frank Wolff is also in top form in this film, as usual.This is sort of a minimalist spaghetti western. The story is simple but great. It never gets boring. There is very little dialog, and that works well in this film, giving it an ultra-cool vibe without being too slick. Yes, there are a few small similarities to "A Fistful of Dollars," but it is by no means a copy of that great film, as some other reviewers might have you believe. This movie has a personality all its own, and the situations here are very different.The music score is incredible. It manages to be great, and very stylish in a spaghetti western sort of way without owing anything to Ennio Morricone. It is really quite memorable and original, and one of the few non-Morricone scores that would be worth owning the soundtrack to.There's lots of great lines and cool action in this movie. Tony Anthony really "takes a licking and keeps on ticking." One of my favorite parts involves the lovely Gia Sandri as "Maruca," a butch looking (for the 1800's) S&M babe. Anthony kills her by using her fetish to his advantage. I also love how Frank Wolff's great line "I'm a fair man" comes back to haunt him later. It's classic stuff all the way.If you like spaghetti westerns, you've got to see this one!