Seven Men from Now (1956)
This is minimalist western, or b-movie done right. Stripping away unnecessary subplots and grander themes, and leaving the core vital elements of the genre with one lonely ranger’s fight against those that did him wrong and the desolate wilderness of the west. Simple revenge plot on the surface, but there is subtle emotional depth and reflection behind every character and their actions. No one here is a dumb archetype, though they do lean into their stereotypical groups of heroes and villains. I am keen on exploring even more of Budd Boetticher and Randolph Scott, as it forms an interesting link between the heroic bombastic American western of the 50s with the gritty and morally grey 60s.
Rating: 3.5