Chris’s review published on Letterboxd:
I liked this a lot more on rewatch. It's an interesting deconstruction of the typical Western formula as the mythological aspects usually associated with the genre are toned down to focus more on the dirty realism of the era. I think Sam Peckinpah does a really good job of capturing the sheer brutality and strain of living at such a time; it's something that is deftly reflected in the narrative, the noble heroes of yesteryear have been replaced by gritty outlaws who are simply trying to survive. The times are changing and the crew can't keep up anymore, it's why so much attention is placed on their camaraderie as it's one of the only things they have left.
The measured pacing definitely makes it feel laboured at points and certain sections could be trimmed, but I think it mostly works because of how distinctly drawn the characters are. The likes of William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan and Warren Oates are able to use their big personalities to adeptly exude a sense of shared history between their characters. The unusual editing remains pretty striking, but where Peckinpah truly excels is with the action sequences. He manages to convey the uncontrolled chaos of the shootouts in a visceral way and because nobody is safe from harm it really heightens the tension. The climax is absolute carnage to an almost astounding level and undeniably ends things on a memorable note.
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