A little boy is abducted by ruthless band gang leader El Cachal (veteran bad guy thespian Fernando Sancho in peak nasty form) after Cahal and his men butcher the boy's family with the exception of his ace gunslinger father Johnny Ashley (a fine and engaging performance by Anthony Steffen). The determined Ashley goes searching for his son. Alas, the boy has grown up to be a mean and merciless criminal named Jerry (a perfectly vicious portrayal by Roberto Maili). Director Alberto Cardone, working from an absorbing script by Juan Carlos and Melchia de Coletti, relates the involving story at a steady pace, maintains a suitably tough and gritty no-nonsense tone throughout, stages the rough'n'ready fisticuffs and stirring shoot-outs with considerable brio (the climax with a bunch of oppressed townspeople banding together and standing up to Cachal and his gang is very exciting while the big confrontation between Jerry and Ashley is quite tense and gripping), and delivers one doozy of a devastating downbeat ending. Moreover, the tragic plot packs a strong emotional wallop and the outbursts of brutal violence are genuinely startling. Kudos are also in order for the uniformly excellent acting from an able cast: Steffen makes for an appealing hero, Sancho is deliciously despicable as the vile Cachal, and the lovely Elisa Montes contributes a nice turn as the sweet Sybil. Jose F. Aguayo's crisp widescreen cinematography offers several breathtaking panoramic shots of the rocky countryside. Francesco De Masi's twangy and spirited score hits the harmonic spot. Recommended.
Review of Seven Dollars to Kill
