- AI
-
Screenwriting\e607
-
Directing\e606
-
Cinematography & Cameras\e605
-
Editing & Post-Production\e602
-
Documentary\e603
-
Movies & TV\e60a
-
Producing\e608
-
Distribution & Marketing\e604
-
Festivals & Events\e611
-
Fundraising & Crowdfunding\e60f
-
Sound & Music\e601
-
Games & Transmedia\e60e
-
Grants, Contests, & Awards\e60d
-
Film School\e610
-
Jobs\e60c
-
Marketplace & Deals\e60b
-
Off Topic\e609
-
This Site\e600
9 Most Brutal Westerns Ever Made
What are some hardcore movies you might want to check out?
Jan 13, 2025
I love a good Western. When I made our list of the best westerns ever made, I spent a few weeks in heaven watching all sorts of different versions of these films, but a few stuck with me.
They were some of the most brutal movies I had ever seen, and I love recommending them to people.
So today, I will list them for you to check out and enjoy.
Let's dive into the list.
1. 'The Wild Bunch'
Sam Peckinpah is one of the coolest directors who ever lived. He was a little crazy, incredibly bold, and made one of the greatest westerns of all time in The Wild Bunch. It is violent, unrelenting, and disturbed people when it was released.
2. 'Bone Tomahawk'
I'm a massive Craig S. Zahler fan, and this was the first movie he did that made everyone talk about him as an artist. It's an unflinching horror story that takes the best Western tropes and subverts them to tell a bloody tale.
3. 'Django Unchained'
Quentin Tarantino never does anything with a half measure, and this revenge western goes as hard as possible. It has violence, joyous moments, and a lot of justified anger.
4. 'The Revenant'
DiCaprio won an Oscar for his performance in this movie, and the tribulations he went through to make this movie make me feel like he deserved it. When I watch this movie, it feels chillingly accurate to what it was like back then.
5. 'No Country For Old Men'
The Coen brothers take this nihilistic modern Western as a story about good intentions, the path to hell, an antagonist who may very well be the devil, and a lot of stories about fate. It's one of my favorite movies of all time.
6. 'The Proposition'
When people ask me for a hidden gem Western, this is the movie I like to tell people about. Guy Pearce stars in this Australian western story, which is grimy and gritty and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
7. 'El Topo'
This is one of those Jodorowsky movies that will not be for everyone, but the sheer artistry and beauty keep me coming back again and again.
8. 'Soldier Blue'
I had not seen this movie until recently, and it's another hidden gem. It takes on the massacre of Native Americans and shows a pretty brutal look at frontier life.
9. 'Unforgiven'
Look, Clint Eastwood movies could dominate this list, but this revisionist western stands on its own as one of the greatest movies of all time. It's so engaging and enthralling. You can't look away as things get worse and worse.
Summing Up The 9 Most Brutal Westerns Ever Made
I'm a massive fan of Westerns so this was a very fun task to do. They are all unique in their own ways, and I love seeing how different directors tackle the character development and character arcs and subvert tropes.
If you think there are any brutal westerns I've missed, please let me know in the comments.
Keep ReadingShow less
Loading more
Popular
Latest
Get our eBook "How to Write a Screenplay" FREE: