This is How Movies Should Be Made

Excellent, a Must See

Dreadfully Boring

Blistering performances.

A solid (if standard) plot, good action, and well directed by an under appreciated filmmaker who churned out many solid entries in the genre. Only one thing holds it back: the lousy acting of Richard Harrison. Harrison had a real knack for detracting from the overall value of the films he appeared in, in all honesty he just could not act. Cast Anthony Steffen, Gianni Garko, or Craig Hill in the lead in this well crafted spag and it would have been something to remember.

VENGEANCE is one of the better films in Italian director Antonio Margheriti's long and entertaining career. It stars Richard Harrison in what is probably his best spaghetti western; he plays the usual vengeful gunslinger whose brother is murdered in an eye-watering way in the film's most memorable moment, the opening sequence. Harrison then goes on his revenge trek, bumping off the gang members one at a time. This is a dusty, gritty western, with a very dark look and feel. It's full of death scenes and torture as Harrison kills and is variously captured and abused by the bad guys in turn. A fine supporting cast includes the underrated Werner Pochath and Luciano Pigozzi, both underrated actors in their own right. Margheriti keeps the pace fast and shoots his action scenes with speed and aplomb, leaving this a film without a single extraneous moment.

A mute, violent hero (the leader of an outlaw band) single-minded in taking vengeance (on the accomplices who have betrayed him)... Well, it looks as though the viewer is off for just another spaghetti western. And during the first undistinguished half, their fears ARE well-founded. But hope should not be given up, all is not lost. Indeed the man at the helm is none other than Antonio Margheriti (aka Anthony Dawson), a pleasant minor master particularly at ease in fantasy films ("Horror Castle", "Castle of Blood"). And when (rather unexpectedly to be true) the director suddenly remembers what he is really good at, the run-of-the-mill flick is metamorphosed into an unidentified (and inspired) cinematic object. "Vengeance" is still a western, complete with duels, showdown and Morricone-like score, but from then on it gets mixed with thriller (the delayed discovery of the traitor; the astonishing flashback unveiling the true facts about the bank robbery) and horror ((the long final sequence in the sulfur mine with its extravagant lightings and baroque framework ; the villain appearing as a grotesque clown). No longer apathetic, the viewer is now agape. The lesson to be drawn is that if you demand more of a film than just B (or Z) features, just have patience and you will be rewarded. Like Rocco, the hero of the story in a way...

Vengeance is directed by Italian horror-maestro Antonio Margheriti, and it proves that he can direct a good western as well.The hero is a Django-like character named Rocco. Richard Harrison does a fine job in this role. The showdowns between Rocco and the various men he is seeking to kill are suspenseful, entertaining, and very well done, especially the beer glass duel with the character named "Kid" (which I had to watch a couple of times to figure out how "Kid" was cheating). In the end, it is Claudio Camaso as the main villain "Mendoza" who steals the show. Mendoza is a wonderful character who is kind of a cross between Malcolm McDowell's character in "A Clockwork Orange," and a villain you would see in the Batman TV series from the 1960's. You've gotta love it! It's the American west as it can only happen in Italy, and it is a joy to watch. The music is also great.Highly recommended to anyone who understands and appreciates the Italian westerns.