10 Incredibly Dark Westerns You Need To See

West Movies often deal with themes of independence, assimilation and rugged individualism. These films are sometimes interpreted as ringing endorsements of the myth of the American West. However, the darkest westerns in the genre explore the issues with these stories and expose the deeper truths about the victims of these ideologies. Dark Westerns feature intense displays of violence and fast-paced action, But these serve to communicate the larger purpose of the plot and the filmmaker’s message. As thrilling as they are unsettling, these films push boundaries and define what audiences under the Western genre are.

The filmmakers and actors who are hallmarks of Western cinema tend to push boundaries and subvert genres as their careers progress. This is not surprising, considering how much the Western defines American cinema. The best villains in Clint Eastwood’s western movies are part of the reason that Eastwood’s contributions to the genre remain so definitive. however, Modern Westerns, like the underrated Westerns of the 2010s, are even more engaged with contemporary social and political lenses. which are used to dissect movies today. Critics and audiences alike have consistently recognized these Westerns as vital contributions.

10

High Plains Drifter (1973)

Directed by Clint Eastwood

It’s hard to say if Clint Eastwood is a better actor or director, but in High Plains DrifterThe audience does not have to choose as Eastwood leads the cast and lends his expertise behind the camera. All his experience in spaghetti westerns prepared him for an illustrious career as a director. Although Unforgiven is his magnum opus, Eastwood paints a darkly beautiful picture in High Plains Drifter. his character, HThe stranger is more than an antihero; He is a violent and cruel man Who uses his power and influence to take what he wants.

High Plains Drifter was well ahead of its time in its interrogation of the cowboy archetype and its use of the camera and cinematography to convey that the stranger is not the hero of the story. However, it is impossible to look away from High Plains Drifterlike Many of the people the stranger comes up against are no better than him. The film was unlike anything else Hollywood was putting out at the time and propelled the western genre forward into the new era of cinema.

9

Bone Tomahawk (2015)

Directed by S. Craig Zahler

Bone tomahawk is as much a Western as it is a horror movie, as the graphic and disturbing depictions of violence are enough to turn the stomach of the most hardened viewer. The film is led by an all-star cast, including Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, and Matthew Fox, But Russell is the star of the story. There is much to discuss when it comes to Bone tomahawkAs the story raises questions about the dynamic between the so-called civilized society and how quickly the veneer falls away when survival is on the line.

Bone tomahawk was criticized for the evil of indigenous people in the West and for the intensely racist outlook of the main character. Part of Bone tomahawk Comments about what white settlers believed the West was like And how their international greatness informed the violence they felt comfortable perpetuating. Although the film should undoubtedly be viewed through a critical lens, it takes up important conversations about the legacy of the West.

8

The Power of the Dog (2021)

Directed by Jane Campion

Too few Western films are directed by women, however Jane Campion The power of the dog is a fantastically dark and poignant addition to the genre. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Phil, a misunderstood man who deals with misplaced aggression and dissatisfaction because the period and culture won’t let him express his desires and sexuality. This leads to a deep feud between himself and Rose (Kirsten Dunst), who marries his brother and disrupts Phil’s home and routine. While the viewer spends most of the film fearing much, he is not the only character with secrets.

Cumberbatch may be best known for playing Sherlock In the BBC’s modern TV series about the detective, but he slips right into the role of the cowboy in the Old West. Although there is violence and betrayal throughout The power of the dogThe real tragedy is how the characters feel trapped by their situations and must do everything they can to escape them. The power of the dog Interrogating the myth of American masculinity and how the archetype of the cowboy perpetuates this myth, As well as how damaging it is to everyone who comes in contact with it.

7

The Proposal (2005)

Directed by John Hillcoat

Guy Pearce is unrecognizable in The information Like Charlie Burns, a man forced into an impossible situation because of the sins of his brothers. There are few characters to like and almost none to root for The information, Because no one is innocent in committing and inciting violence and unrest in the unrestrained community that was built. The information Received praise for its nuanced depiction of the various identities and beliefs of the people who lived in Australia during this period.

While many audiences are familiar with American Westerns and Spaghetti Westerns, the Australian Western includes some of the genre’s best movies. The information Exemplifies what this facet of the Western film does best and exposes audiences unfamiliar with this aspect of Australian history to a narrative that mirrors the themes of the American West but pushes them even further. Although The information Pulls no punches in depicting the cruelty of its characters, it also passes a little judgment on the people forced into situations from which there is no escape.

6

El Topo (1970)

Directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky

Alejandro Jodorowsky is an iconic and controversial director Al TopoA movie he directed and starred in is no exception to the surreal and violent themes he explored in his work. Al Topo is deeply entrenched in themes of religion and spirituality, with most of the plot points and character’s experiences feeling more like a dream than real events. Critical and audience opinion on Al Topo has shifted over timeWith many coming to appreciate Jodorowsky’s experimental style, even if it is full of exploitative images.

When watching Al Topo and Jodorowsky’s other works, it is up to the audience to decide their own interpretation of the meaning behind the intensity of the story and the visuals on screen. however, Her influence on experimental and surrealist cinema cannot be overlooked, How many famous directors have been inspired by Al Topo and his interest in fanaticism and the supposed path to enlightenment. Although Al Topo Featuring the imagery and visuals of the Western genre, it transcends it in subject and tone.

5

The Hateful Eight (2015)

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino’s Western movies are an important facet of his career and have often been lightning rods for criticism because of Tarantino’s violent and controversial style. However, regardless of the audience or critical opinion of Tarantino, the director is able to reach the line between nihilistic and incredibly fun. While The hate eight ends in a bloodbath and gives no happiness ever after, It is able to find humor and excitement in its darkness, which makes the project more palatable.

Especially when you’re watching a Tarantino movie The hate eight, It is clear that the director has a deep respect and reverence for the western films that have influenced him And wants to do justice to the genre. However, there is still plenty of action and complex plot for casual fans to find just as much enjoyment in the work as film buffs. The stakes and tension of The hate eight are heightened by the fact that most of the film takes place in one room.

4

The Revenant (2015)

Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu

Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance in The Revenant is one of the greatest depictions of real-life people in Western cinema, and it won him the Oscar for best actor in 2016. The film draws on the stories of the experience of the man Hugh Glass. In 1823, a bear mauled glass, but he survived. It’s a harrowing journey and DiCaprio’s character experiences the worst nightmare of a different group of people during this period. There are No cowboys or gunslingers in The RevenantOnly the sheer force of nature.

The Revenant is an interesting example of a movie that really puts man against nature, because many Westerners use their stories as a metaphor for the so-called “domestication” of the West. However, there is also a lot of conflict between Glass and the other people trying to make their living off the land. moreover, The Revenant is in tune with the use of stunning visuals that emphasize the rugged and unforgiving terrain That most invading settlers had no idea how to navigate or respect.

3

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Directed by Ethan Coen & Joel Coen

The masterpiece of the Coen brothers, No country for old peopleis based on the Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name and demonstrates how influential the Coens were in creating the modern Western. featuring Javier Bardem’s best role as the vicious and terrifying Anton Chigurh, No country for old people was a massive critical and commercial success. The neo-western is still a budding genre, but few have been able to capture how the spirit of the western translated to contemporary eras with the skill of the Coen brothers.

The film is set in the 1980s, a period that lends itself to the anonymity of the past while grappling with the encroaching modernization of the future. No country for old people Blends aspects of the crime thriller genre with western movies to create a compelling and violent chase Across the West. Each character is set by the ringer in No country for old peopleAnd the relentless nature of the violence would be too much if not for the amazing filmmaking that brings the story to life.

2

There Will Be Blood (2007)

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

Also released in 2007 and featuring career-defining performances from its actors, There will be blood was No country for old peoples major competition the year both films were released. However, they are completely different takes on the West and the way it transforms people. There will be blood is a sweeping character study of Daniel Plainview, played by Daniel Day-Lewis at his best, And harkens back to the traditional epic of old Hollywood. Money and power are the driving forces behind Plainview’s actions, as he represents the modernization of the West.

Although No country for old people Hit There will be blood For Best Picture at the Academy Awards, this did not diminish the film’s popularity or acclaim. The size of There will be blood Is enough to surprise the audience, like Plainview is consumed by his desire for notoriety and the security that accompanies absolute power. However, in his search, he loses everything that once made him human and is destroyed by his own greed and self-hatred.

1

The Searchers (1956)

Directed by John Ford

John Ford and John Wayne collaborated many times on the movies that essentially created the West Genre, however The searchers May be their most important project. Instead of a rough and tumble cowboy, Wayne plays Ethan Edwards, a man unwilling to change. Or compromise as the world evolves around him. In a single-minded quest to save his young niece, Ethan becomes a monster and upends his own life and relationships, trying to find someone who ultimately refuses to be found.

As time progressed, The searchers has come to be considered one of the greatest movies of its time and is considered a brilliant take on the hero archetype of the West. Wayne plays Ethan perfectly, as the aging star is able to capture the fear of being left behind and the terror of the world that is unrecognizable in front of him. For such an early film, The searchers Paints a more nuanced and complex picture than most movies of the era of the relationship between invading white settlers and indigenous Americans.