Review of Prey of Vultures

"Hands of a Gunfighter" director Rafael Romero Marchent's "Prey for Vultures" qualifies as an above-average Spaghetti western with a sympathetic hero, a dastardly villain, gunfire galore, and two terrific red herrings courtesy of scenarists Ernesto Gastaldi of "Day of Anger," based on a story by co-written by Luis Gaspar of "Relay for a Gunman" and Marchent. Mind you, this 1972 released horse opera bears some resemblance to the Lee Van Cleef oater "Death Rides A Horse," and Peter Lee Lawrence's twentysomething character resembles the John Philip Law character in the Van Cleef western. Our young hero is an artist who draw pictures in his spare time when he isn't displaying his exceptional accuracy with a six-gun. He learns that his father has decided to sell their ranch because he cannot maintain the spread. They climb aboard a stagecoach to leave and bandits attack them. During the chase, our hero tumbles out of the vehicle and witnesses the death of his father at the hands of the robbers. He sets out to kill the men who gunned down his dad. Although he doesn't see the faces of his father's murderers, he notices thing about them that distinguish them. For example, he notices the distinctive boots that one killer wears and the elaborate spurs that another robber has. Our hero must protect his identity until he discovers a kindred soul who wants justice served because he grew up in the town that has spawned a gang of ruthless outlaws. Of course, there is a romance brewing at the same time as our hero struggles to uncover the identities of the killers.