Rent Chato's Land (1972)

Brutal 70s Western - Chato's Land review by GI

This western from director Michael Winner continues his obsession with death, an obsession he's clearly acquired from Italian westerns especially those of Sergio Leone. Indeed there's a quite obvious homage to Once Upon A Time In the West (1968) and those familiar with that classic should spot it easily enough. This is a harsh, brutal tale of the hunt for Chato (Charles Bronson), a part Apache, after he kills a racist lawman in self defence. The posse led by Jack Palance and including Richard Basehart, James Whitmore, Simon Oakland, Ralph Waite and others are all violent sadists intent on vengeance at all costs. Their hatred for Indians will drive them to rape and murder along the way and thus earn the wrath that Chato unleashes upon them. Like many of the westerns of the 70s this is very violent and lacks the thematic subtlety of others of the period. Having said that it's an entertaining film with the thrust of the narrative being about a group of men who turn upon themselves and it's an interesting example of the 70s western.