When a group of Mexican peasents arrive at a castle taht is housing a group of union soliders, they feel as if freedom is at hand. This optomisim turns to deadly revenge as they are murdered without remorse. Gunned down by a group of local men under the direction of the evil town boss, Ferguson. A little boy survives the massarce and stumbles through the fields and into the arms of a travelling parson and his family. The parson askes the boy nothing of his experience and simply rides off with him. His wife takes the boy as her own and he lives with them and their daughter. Growing up to become a man of god, all seems well. When some years later, they return to the area and the boy comes face to face with the evil men that carried out this evil crime, he begins the process of revenge. Casting away his work as a preacher and taking up the gun as his righteous weapon.

Italian westerns challenge the viewers of today more than almost any other production base or film movement. They do this in many ways and by themes, subjects and subtext.  Most often they were produced for an audience (at the time) that was fed up of weak hearted and limp story telling. This audience wanted the world they were living in reflected and they wanted to see the truth, out of the lies. This film is essentially about race, culture and the use of bigotry as a tool to justify murder. It uses great character players to reflect extra ordinary views on the world and racism within that. It should be shown to the EDL, ISIL, BJP and these self delusional types. I for one found it very apt at explaining to these baffons, a solid reason why attacking a single race of people is morally wrong. It is not that the fear or retribution (though this is very much there), it is as the film illustrates, the illogical theme of accusing one group of people of being uncivilised without thinking simply. You are talking about a million different beings. All of different backgrounds, beliefs and positions. This logic is so idiotic as to be deeply unpleasant and the film tells its story so deftly that you will feel its message. It never wrong foots you into missing its point or hiding from its ideals of racism as poison.

The discs (Both Blu and DVD) are great and as you will see below have wonderfiul extras. I Loved the interviews, as they have great info on the film and its ambition but the thing to pay for is the extremely well pieced together booklet. Arrow are great at this and this is a gem. It has some of the best art work and writing on any film. Thumbs up!