Bounty killer Luke Chilson makes it his business to bring in escaped bandit Jose Gomez. Gomez flees to a small settlement on the Mexican border pursued by Chilson, who is treated with contempt by the townsfolk because of how he earns his living. However, the welcome Gomez with open arms and see him as the "victim". The townspeople help Gomez overpower Chilson and the bounty killer is held prisoner in the town. Gomez' gang soon joins him and the townsfolk become increasingly disturbed by the outlaw's violent behaviour. This prompts Gomez' former girlfriend to free Chilson which sets the stage for the inevitable showdown...
The Bounty Killer was released in mid 1966 when most spaghetti western directors were still practising their craft and only the likes of Leone or Corbucci could produce a truly amazing film. This movie is rather poor and makes for nothing more than a time passer, it's contents easily forgotten once the credits begin to roll. It does have its moments but failed to hold my attention, looking good on the outside but coming across as extremely tepid. Despite the interesting plot nothing much happens over the film's duration and the narrative is set around a dusty little settlement in the middle of the desert. Apart from the two leads all of the characters are one dimensional and uninteresting. Richard Wyler was pretty good as Chilson as was Tomas Milian as Gomez. Milian(in his first spaghetti western)chews the scenery but is really the film's saving grace. The soundtrack began to get tedious around the film's halfway mark and is one very dour composition, a far cry from a chilling Morricone score. Action is sparse but I will admit that the final showdown was pretty enjoyable. The OTT deaths intercut with the stern close-ups of Chilson's face did make me laugh a little. Jose Gomez gets a humorously melodramatic death which gives literal meaning to the term "...and another one bites the dust".
Overall an okay spaghetti western which is still worthy of viewing. 6/10.
The Bounty Killer was released in mid 1966 when most spaghetti western directors were still practising their craft and only the likes of Leone or Corbucci could produce a truly amazing film. This movie is rather poor and makes for nothing more than a time passer, it's contents easily forgotten once the credits begin to roll. It does have its moments but failed to hold my attention, looking good on the outside but coming across as extremely tepid. Despite the interesting plot nothing much happens over the film's duration and the narrative is set around a dusty little settlement in the middle of the desert. Apart from the two leads all of the characters are one dimensional and uninteresting. Richard Wyler was pretty good as Chilson as was Tomas Milian as Gomez. Milian(in his first spaghetti western)chews the scenery but is really the film's saving grace. The soundtrack began to get tedious around the film's halfway mark and is one very dour composition, a far cry from a chilling Morricone score. Action is sparse but I will admit that the final showdown was pretty enjoyable. The OTT deaths intercut with the stern close-ups of Chilson's face did make me laugh a little. Jose Gomez gets a humorously melodramatic death which gives literal meaning to the term "...and another one bites the dust".
Overall an okay spaghetti western which is still worthy of viewing. 6/10.