The Storm Rider

Just watching this now, for the first time, on late-night cable.

What a surprise! It starts off like any old B-western you've seen, but then it surprises you at every turn.

What makes it special is that almost none of the characters are clichés. You keep expecting them to be, but then they turn out to be complex and multi-dimensional. -And not just one character, but virtually all the main ones. There are VERY few westerns with this much depth.

Negatives:

The lead actor does a fine job, but he lacks the charisma of a true leading man. Had John Wayne played this part, "Storm Rider" might be known as one of the great westerns of all time.

Sadly, the cinematography is pretty dark & dismal. -And the screenplay isn't all that exciting, except for the interesting plot turns. Still, I consider this a "must see" if you like westerns.