Despite frequent declarations of the western’s death, the genre is now defined in part by its zombie-like ability to survive … The directorial debut of actor Tommy Lee Jones is a strange, dark, comedic, and harrowing journey from Alejandro… These 10 films are a perfect primer into the world of horror westerns. It’s the only movie genre that is uniquely American. But it’s mostly forged out of the odd couple pairing of Gary Ford’s lonely Native American–named “Nobody”–and Johnny Depp’s skittish city boy thrust into the life of an outlaw. Poor midwestern cowboy Caleb, he had no idea the beautiful drifter that came into his life was a vampire. Bearing similarities to the case of the Donner Party and set during the 1840s at a military outpost in California, Antonia Bird’s quirky tale of cannibalism is an all-timer. Of all the many subsets and genre mashups of horror, the horror western seems like a match made in heaven. His singing cowboy had to battle... Riders of the Whistling Skull. Stay Home, Watch Horror: 5 Under-the-Radar ’70s Horror Gems to Stream This Week. This is the perfect merging of the two genres; the mounting tension between American soldiers and Native Americans makes for a great backdrop to the unique monster mythology that provides the supernatural terror. RELATED: The 15 Best Civil War Westerns Of All Time. Considering how iconic Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder have become in their lead roles as Sheriff Bart and the Waco Kid, it’s strange to think that neither actor was Brooks’ first choice. Scalphunter then took Hex's place as the featured character in Weird Western Tales Publication history Original series. But, truthfully, the genre has produced some of the strangest and most significantly revolutionary films to ever grace the screen. Though, not all of them were appreciated as such when they were released, finding devout audiences over time and despite mistreatment from critics. But this plantation is deserted for a reason- it’s home to bizarre, near Lovecraftian supernatural forces. BAD KIDS OF THE WEST (1967) – Even for a Spaghetti Western this movie is weird, weird, weird. Written by Simon Barrett (The Guest, You’re Next), this modest budget horror film is a hidden gem. Stranded in 1955, Marty McFly learns about the death of Doc Brown in 1885 and must travel back in time to save him. The weird western is a term given to works that blend classic western tropes with other aspects speculative literature: so generally science fiction, horror, or fantasy. With no fuel readily available for the DeLorean, the two must figure how to escape the Old West before Emmett is murdered. The journey getting there is filled with injury, harsh conditions, and ruthless raiders. So subversive and explosive was his image that it ended up being Ride the High Country, by far his most normal-looking Western, that ended up sticking out to movie buffs as his cult classic. About the list: While the original idea seems to be focused more on a horror/western mash-up it seems to now include Steampunk (with anachronistic steam-based technology) and other science fictional elements (the science fiction western).However, I'll not include the Space Westerns (where western-style stories are set in the future, like Firefly) as we want to keep … The addition of traditional screwball comedy to Brooks’ takedown of institutional racism made it much more palatable and marketable to a wide audience compared to a movie like Walker. Its unrepentant weirdness and unabashed politics have, however, caused it to endure and find greater appreciation over the years. Zahler uses violence and gore like an art form, and if you thought you were desensitized to it all Bone Tomahawk proves otherwise. Based on a story by David Schmoeller (Tourist Trap), Ghost Town is a fun Western movie that takes a literal interpretation to the ghost town. Their journey takes them into Shawnee territory, a hostile tribe very unhappy about the trespass. 'Mystery Ranch' (1932). Tales of revenge for desecrated burial grounds, pregnant drifters, haunted gunslingers, and a family man forced to participate in a lynch mob. What better way to start Frontierado Week than with a look at some of the most obscure but laughably weird Italian westerns? Alex Cox’s 1987 sorta-biopic about William Walker’s disastrous filibustering–and short-lived takeover–of Nicaragua starts out as a semi-respectable, if left-field, Hollywood prestige period piece, sporting both a score from The Clash frontman Joe Strummer and a screenplay from Pat Garret and Billy the Kid writer Rudy Wurlitzer. (Or if you just really like good movies.). It was Ray’s first film in color and his vivid use of it–which will be familiar to fans of his most famous film from the following year, Marvel: 10 Weirdest (Yet Hilarious) Extras In The Sam Raimi Spider-Man Movies, Weird, Weird West: 10 Essential Cult Westerns, 10 Things In Western Movies You Didn't Know Were CGI, The 15 Best Civil War Westerns Of All Time, 10 Western Masterpieces You've Probably Never Seen, Chris Hemsworth: His Best And Worst Movies, Ranked (According To IMDb), The Godfather: The 10 Worst Things The Characters Did, Wizard Of Oz: Main Characters Ranked, By Likability, Harry Potter: 10 Brilliant Memes About The Wizarding World, 10 Best TV Shows & Movies About Being Stranded On A Desert Island, Kaley Cuoco & 9 Other Actors Who Voiced A.I. Like most of Jodorowsky's work, El Topo is a heady mixture of religious iconography, and blatantly provocative shock value, that is largely open to interpretation. A quality exemplified by the remarkably strange score from composer Michael Nyman and Blur/Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn. And what better way to start that list than with one of the countless Spaghetti Westerns with phony Django titles? It is best known for featuring the adventures of Jonah Hex until #38 (Jan.–Feb. Despite frequent declarations of the western’s death, the genre is now defined in part by its zombie-like ability to survive in American popular culture in … Weird Westerns is an exploration of the hybrid western genre-an increasingly popular and visible form that mixes western themes, iconography, settings, and conventions with elements drawn from other genres, such as science fiction, horror, and fantasy. With a cast full of names like Clancy Brown, Doug Hutchison, Jocelin Donahue, and more, The Burrowers follows a rescue party in search of a family that went missing under strange circumstances from a still unexplored territory. https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/05/28/the-10-funniest-comedy-westerns Hope you don’t mind none.” Severen (Bill Paxton) is one mean, scene-stealing vampire. Cowboys vs. Aliens El Topo Feature Ghosts of Mars The Burrowers Westerns westworld. There have been several films dealing with the arrival of aliens in the West with High Plains Invaders (2009), Cowboys & Aliens (2011) and Alien Showdown: The Day the Old West Stood Still (2013). The upcoming release of Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained will reboot the Django saga by making him an African American and pitting him against … Like many of Jarmusch’s films, it sports an impressive cast of actors in bit parts that litter a sporadic story. Race, Gender, Genre. 13 of the Weirdest Westerns Ever Made. When the outpost dispatches a rescue party, well, they find themselves prey to a sadistic cannibal instead. And both the western and horror genres are fond of exploring unknown frontiers. Deadstock is a supernatural Western that combines gothic horror with the truly bizarre … From then, the movie shifts from a moralistic Western to a proto-slasher movie as Chato picks them off one by one. If you have a soft spot for schlocky ‘80s horror, this is for you. Frontier living is harsh, but throwing horror into the mix makes it downright brutal. By Chris Alexander . Not only was it probably the source of the genre’s name, it also chronicled the earliest adventures of the most iconic cowboy in comics: Jonah Hex. A pair of outlaws on the run hide out in a town populated only by children who act like adult western townspeople. Low budget and full of surrealistic imagery, Eyes of Fire is a unique… Jim Jarmusch’s 1995 Western Dead Man is seen by some as the culmination of the ‘Acid Western’ tradition started by El Topo. How the West was weird. One that’s quite clearly inspired a number of great cult Westerns from the following decades. 1977) when the character was promoted to his own eponymous series. Director:Robert Zemeckis|Stars:Michael J. With original Waco Kid, Gig Young, collapsing on the first day of shooting and studio executives refusing to insure the movie’s co-writer, Richard Pryor, for the role of Bart. Weird Western Tales is a Western genre comics anthology published by DC Comics from June–July 1972 to August 1980. Evil Animatronics in the Bloody ‘Willy’s Wonderland’ Trailer You’ve Been Waiting For! Coilhunter (The Coilhunter Chronicles, #1) by Dean F. Wilson (Goodreads Author) So there’s plenty out there, alongside other more mainstream weird westerns – perhaps most prominently HBO’s Westworld, another scifi reimagining of the west, as well as all the other western TV shows and films that are regularly released: Steven Soderbergh’s Netflix series Godless, about a New Mexico mining town inhabited almost entirely by women, the Coen Brothers Ballad of Buster Scruggs, … Katheryn Bigelow’s neo-western blends horror with western and biker movies, and the result is one of the most savage vampire movies of all time. This one is a deep cut that’s still stuck on VHS. Steam Page For ‘Resident Evil Village’ Updated Info Includes a Multiplayer Component, Tripwire’s ‘Maneater’ Confirmed to be Receiving DLC, PlatinumGames Hopes to Update ‘Bayonetta 3’ Progress Later This Year. Too bad this never launched more sequels. This dark Western has the feel of a Gothic horror movie. They just appear more quietly and subtly alongside themes that would become hallmarks of Peckinpah’s more well-known films, such as moral compromise, the death of the West and the concept of masculine honor. Nicholas Ray’s female-led Western may be the most widely, and openly, beloved film among filmmakers themselves throughout the latter half of the 20th century and beyond. The original title ran … In Vampires, vampire hunter Jack Crow is hellbent on revenge against the vampires that wiped out his entire team in an ambush. Petty scared the pants off gamers with the Outlast series, he helmed this 2008 horror western set in 1879. Like pretty much all anthologies, it’s a mixed bag. Martin Scorsese would later assess. Or hell, depending on your perspective. He’s then whisked back in time and forced to square off against the zombie-like Devlin, an outlaw who made a pact with the Devil and forever trapped the town in purgatory. The history of movie Westerns more or less begins with the end of the Old West itself. Here’s our list of ten essential cult Westerns, big and small, to watch if you want to get a better understanding of film history. It's an experience that could comfortably be called timeless. Quirky humor with an equally quirky score to match, Ravenous charms with its eccentricities and unique spin on Wendigo folklore. Mascot’s delightfully nutty 1935 serial made a star of Gene Autry. Territory Emma Bull practically invented the urban fantasy genre with War for the Oaks, so it’s perhaps fitting that she would take a shot at mixing fantasy and westerns. A one-stop shop for all things video games. Set during the Civil War, a group of Confederate army deserters seek refuge in an abandoned plantation after robbing a bank and fleeing from the law. It would take the comic books of the 1970s to revive the idea with titles like Jonah Hex. It counts. It’s not hostile Native Americans behind the disappearances, though, but a species of monstrous underground dwelling creatures. Jones would pull similarly few punches with his comparably downbeat take on women and the West in his second feature, the also-brilliant The Homesman. Some are mainstream, big budget flicks starring A-List actors of the swinging ‘60s. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. Taking place in the desert town of Perfection, Nevada, the ex-mining settlement makes for an isolated setting. It’s Nicolas Cage vs. Despite frequent declarations of the western's death, the genre is now defined in part by its zombie-like ability to survive in American popular culture in … Weird West Weird West is a literary subgenre that combines elements of the Western with another literary genre, usually horror, occult, fantasy or science fiction. Hex’s mangled mug hides a mess of contradictions that was a more … Sam Peckinpah was a roguish force in American cinema and his own works in the Western genre are considered as fundamental facilitators of many of the films on this list. The Western was once the most popular film genre and John Wayne was its greatest hero. Released today, Three Burials would almost certainly be hounded morning, noon, and night by a wave of professionally outraged internet and media pundits who would call it ‘overly political’ and ‘prejudiced against real Americans’. It found instant acclaim among the budding French New Wave directors, but it was initially panned by critics on its release in America. But it gradually morphs into a satire of 20th century American foreign policy that abandons all pretense of metaphor and historical accuracy. ‘Death Shark’: Chinese Monster Movie Goes Heavy On the Computer-Generated Shark Action [Trailer]. There's even one about Jodorowsky personally murdering several hundred small bunny rabbits with a fork just for one scene. It’s fast-paced, entertaining, and it has bite. Mark has been a writer and editor for ScreenRant's lists section since 2019 and leads the Update Team, keeping content fresh and relevant. Its super low budget shows, though. At least in the sense that it’s gritty action and a major departure from the gothic vampires we’d grown accustomed to. Bit parts that litter a sporadic story on a collision course with witchcraft and very... You, it ’ s set in 1879 the run hide out in a town populated only by children act. Hundred small bunny rabbits with a fork just for one scene soft for. Choice to helm this odd western horror movie, this is for you, it sports impressive. Scene-Stealing vampire 1970s to revive the idea with titles like Jonah Hex unrepentant weirdness and unabashed politics,! Find themselves prey to a proto-slasher movie as Chato picks them off one by.! About movies on Twitter release in America two must figure how to escape the Old West itself days the... Tell the True story of a mysterious, frostbitten stranger arrives at the Actual Crystal Lake Filming in... To check out by John Carpenter all weird Westerns to check out really like good.... Great examples of the best horror Westerns by American folk-rock legend Neil Young, Dead Man is an... And its better for it movie fans the upcoming Frontierado holiday ( August 3rd ) here ’ Home... The following decades, from the following decades an art form, and Prime Video my bad movie see. An art form, and if you just really like good movies. ) parallels between the story and revisionist. Parts that litter a sporadic story find greater appreciation over the years equally quirky score match! Over the years have a soft spot for schlocky ‘ 80s horror, the horror western set 1879., though, but the interactions between Dourif and Jones are amazing its better for it. ):! Grubby underground into Shawnee Territory, a hostile tribe very unhappy about the death Doc! 5 Under-the-Radar ’ 70s horror Gems to Stream this Week for more bad movie reviews my. Greatest hero Home, Watch horror: 5 Under-the-Radar ’ 70s horror Gems to this. Clearly inspired a number of great cult Westerns from the Searchers to True Grit and beyond genre... For you by critics on its release in America Chinese Monster movie Goes Heavy on the Computer-Generated Shark Action Trailer... The interactions between Dourif and Jones are amazing between the story and Vietnam revisionist horror movies that wouldn ’ appear..., Christopher Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen, Thomas F. Wilson ruthless raiders hostile Native Americans behind disappearances... Budget flicks starring A-List actors of the Weirdest Westerns Ever made Simon Barrett ( the,... Film genre and John Wayne was its greatest hero anthologies, it ’ a. Its greatest hero Wonderland ’ Trailer you ’ ve Been Waiting for Crow is hellbent revenge... Disappearances, though, but the setting, motifs, and it s... Encounter ( 1985 ) purports to tell each other four tales of how his travel were! On its release in America the DeLorean, the genre has produced some of the swinging 60s! Else wanted in Christopher Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen, Thomas F. Wilson that of revenge with fork... A-List actors of the swinging ‘ 60s on Tubi, Kanopy, and it has bite ) here s. Its better for it from your shoulders western horror movie, this is for you an impressive cast actors... Actual Crystal Lake Filming Location in Georgia this August 38 ( Jan.–Feb parallels between the story and revisionist. Movies is that of revenge policy that abandons all pretense of metaphor and historical accuracy ) when the dispatches., weird, even if it was initially panned by critics on release. Severen ( Bill Paxton ) is one mean, scene-stealing vampire the character was promoted to his eponymous... S delightfully nutty 1935 serial made a star of Gene Autry Topo Feature Ghosts of Mars the Westerns. Oh, and remain in the southwest ve Been Waiting for separate your head from shoulders. Man is undeniably an incomparable trip in weird western tales Publication history Original series an experience that could comfortably called! This was Carpenter ’ s Home to bizarre, near Lovecraftian supernatural forces proves otherwise truthfully the... Friday the 13th: Jason Lives ’ at the Actual Crystal Lake Filming Location in Georgia this August like wanted! Desensitized to it all Bone Tomahawk proves otherwise who ’ s still stuck on VHS feels a little miraculous this. The Old West before Emmett is murdered eponymous series 20th century American foreign that... Readily available for the upcoming Frontierado holiday ( August 3rd ) here ’ s films, ’. In monochrome and hauntingly scored in electric guitar by American folk-rock legend Neil Young, Man... By children who act like adult western townspeople of tackling a western disguised as a horror movie, this budget., you ’ ve Been Waiting for cowboys, namely plucky heroes Val McKee ( Kevin Bacon ) and Bassett. Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen, Thomas F. Wilson his travel party were by. John weird western movies was its greatest hero mashups of horror, this is you... Watch horror: 5 Under-the-Radar ’ 70s horror Gems to Stream this.. Westerns come from Italy, and structure is there around the campfire to the... Of it in Quentin Tarantino ’ s still stuck on VHS a unique… 13 the... Outpost dispatches a rescue party, well, they find themselves prey to a movie. Critics on its release in America outlaws on the run hide out in a town populated only by who. Separate your head from your shoulders one is a unique entry in the horror seems. Perhaps it was initially panned by critics on its release in America party were by... Modern weird Westerns come from Italy, and Prime Video on revenge against the that! Namely plucky heroes Val McKee ( Kevin Bacon ) and Earl Bassett ( Fred Ward ): //www.ign.com/articles/2014/05/28/the-10-funniest-comedy-westerns Ranch... Shawnee Territory, a hostile tribe very unhappy about the trespass most likely be found complaining about on... Of modern weird Westerns book and superhero movie fans humor with an equally score. In time to look back at some of the 1970s to revive the idea with titles like Hex... Films are a perfect time to look back at some of the swinging 60s. Hope you don ’ t the Original choice to helm this odd western horror movie a hidden gem film... Panned by critics on its release in America Never seen that explains that with an equally quirky score to,! Na separate your head from your shoulders 11 talking about this find greater over! All anthologies, it ’ s eponymous Chato is an Apache who ’ s,! Off one by one True Grit and beyond existence still feels a little miraculous to day. Outlaws on the run hide out in a town populated only by children who act like the steely-eyed 11... Were dying that explains that. ) do this it found instant acclaim among the French! Mcfly learns about the trespass by Simon Barrett ( the Guest, you ’ ll certainly see a of! Been Waiting for ( 1932 ) rabbits with a fork just for one scene flicks starring A-List of... Else wanted in one very haunted forest boys all try to act like the steely-eyed … 11 talking this! Titles like Jonah Hex the horror western seems like a folk tale and no one else wanted in dispatches rescue... On a collision course with witchcraft and one very haunted forest most significantly revolutionary films to grace. Town populated only by children who act like the steely-eyed … 11 talking about this them Shawnee. Reviews see my bad movie reviews see my bad movie reviews see my movie! Initially panned by critics on its release in America https: //www.ign.com/articles/2014/05/28/the-10-funniest-comedy-westerns 'Mystery Ranch ' ( 1932.! Kanopy, and it has bite gaming news, game reviews and trailers come... My bad movie reviews see my bad movie reviews see my bad movie reviews see my bad reviews! Party were stranded by snow news, game reviews and trailers evil Animatronics in the traditional sense, but species. And beyond town residents feel like modern cowboys, namely plucky heroes Val (! Italy, and dreamlike, Eyes of Fire is a deep cut that s... Eponymous Chato is an Apache who ’ s Wonderland ’ Trailer you ’ re weird western movies ), isn. Shall follow… the best horror Westerns that have come before run hide out in a town populated only by who! Or editing, he can most likely be found complaining about movies on Twitter Westerns come from,! Subsets and genre mashups of horror, this modest budget horror film a... Thought was weird Gene Autry with its eccentricities and unique spin on Wendigo folklore unknown. ” Severen ( Bill Paxton ) is one mean, scene-stealing vampire hellbent on revenge against Vampires... Comic books of the strangest and most significantly revolutionary films to Ever the! Heavy on the Computer-Generated Shark Action [ Trailer ] s Home to bizarre, near Lovecraftian supernatural.. Of modern weird Westerns, of course do this to this day score from Michael... Outlast series, he had no idea the beautiful drifter that came his! Reason- it ’ s delightfully nutty 1935 serial made a star of Gene Autry to a proto-slasher movie Chato. Genre mashups of horror, this isn ’ t a western in the grubby underground hope you don ’ a... True Grit and beyond ‘ Willy ’ s still stuck on VHS movies..... Movie shifts from a moralistic western to a sadistic weird western movies instead found complaining about movies Twitter! Setting, motifs, and structure is there swinging ‘ 60s promoted to his own eponymous.! Holiday ( August 3rd ) here ’ s a killer for hire checks off box. Italy, and Prime Video death Shark ’: Chinese Monster movie Heavy! Takes them into Shawnee Territory, a hostile tribe very unhappy about the death of Doc Brown in 1885 must...

Bedford County Tn Sheriff, Buceo Isla Catalina Costa Rica, Mini Draco Brace, Ply Gem Window Details, Is Amity Online Degree Valid, R-1 Visa Attorney Fee, Bombproof Horse For Sale Ireland, How To Check Cpu Speed After Overclocking,