Summary

• Creating morally ambiguous heroes in Western films has made them even scarier than the villains they face.
• Antiheroes owe their popularity to Westerns, as the genre allowed for complex characters with nothing left to lose.
• The Western genre explores the lawless nature of the Old West, where terrible acts can be committed without repercussions by anyone.

This article contains descriptions of violence and sexual assault.

In a Western movie, making a villain scary is easy, as they can commit acts of violence to shock the viewer, but making the protagonist even more terrifying than their antagonist is no small feat. The formula of heroes being morally virtuous and always being one step ahead of the horrible villains had already become predictable by the time Westerns were gaining popularity. One of the hallmarks of the genre is the lawless nature of the Old West, which allows everyone, no matter what side they're on, to commit terrible acts without repercussions.

While the lawman was a frequent archetype of the genre, he grew less interesting the more he was used, and more room opened up for the antihero to take his place. The morally ambiguous hero has gained popularity in recent years with the increase in acclaimed TV dramas about antiheroes. However, it was the Western that these characters owe thanks to. Creating a complex hero who has nothing left to lose is always a combination that will strike fear into the hearts of his enemies.

10 Charlie Burns

The Proposition (2005)

The Proposition is revolutionary for many reasons, including its setting being Australia, which had its own form of the Wild West, and the violence that stems from the familial anguish in the film. Charlie (Guy Pearce) sets out to kill one of his brothers, who has a bounty on his head, to save the other from the noose, and along the way, he is brutalized in every possible way and desensitized to the horrors around him. By the end of the film, he feels such disgust at the actions of his family that he becomes just as vicious as them.

9 Keoma

Keoma (1976)

In one of the last vestiges of the Spaghetti Western films, Keoma, Franco Nero stars as the titular Keoma. Like many other protagonists of his ilk, he is on a quest for revenge against a corrupt leader who holds a town under his thumb. The film deals was experimental, with supernatural elements. Additionally, it dealt with complex topics of being a descendant of mixed-race heritage, even though Nero was not, and the violence enacted upon the Indigenous peoples of North America. Though his cause is sympathetic, Keoma's actions make the audience weary of what he'll do next.

8 Django

Django (1966)

The original Django follows the title character, Django (Nero), on his bloody but justified warpath against a cache of Confederate soldiers. Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained draws inspiration from this story, but the original film remains iconic for how far Django is willing to go to enact vengeance on those who are evil. Django communicates to the audience the extreme lengths a character goes to when faced with cruelty and how they turn to cruelty themselves in the wake of that experience. To defeat the men he despises, Django must align himself with people capable of just as much violence.

7 Frank Talby

Day of Anger (1967)

Lee Van Cleef was a master performer within the Western genre and his turn as the simultaneous hero and villain Frank Talby in Day of Anger caused quite a stir. At first, it seems that Talby is just who the young protagonist Scott (Giuliano Gemma) needs. He teaches Scott about marksmanship, defending himself, and how to stand up to the people who belittle him. Although Scott is aware that Talby is a ruthless outlaw, he accompanies him across the West on an adventure and grows to trust and respect him.

Unfortunately, this partnership is short-lived, as Talby will never change. When the small town they settle in outlaws guns, Talby murders the sheriff, one of Scott's old friends. Scott quickly comes to view Talby as an enemy after this. He steals himself to face his former mentor, who is capable of anything. Not only are Talby's decisions to live and die by his gun tragic, but they showcase how empty of empathy he is.

6 Rio

One-Eyed Jacks (1961)

Marlon Brando has played many dark and tortured men, and Rio in One-Eyed Jacks is one of them. After years of stewing in prison after being double-crossed by his partner, Rio is out for revenge as soon as he is released. Rio's quest is one of hate as he is already an outlaw, though he is softened by his love for his partner's stepdaughter. Much of Rio's tale is full of sadness rather than violence, making him desperate. In the moments where it comes to blows, he is a shrewd strategist and not to be trifled with.

5 Jesse James

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

In a recent iteration of the Western film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford takes a look at the legacy of an outlaw. As well as how quickly the memory of a person can become bigger than who they were. Many famous actors have played Jesse James in Westerns, but Brad Pitt took up the role in the film. James was a real outlaw in the Old West, and this retelling of his story shows what a cruel man he was and how little he cared about the lives of the of his gang.

4 The Stranger

High Plains Drifter (1973)

Only known as The Stranger, Clint Eastwood's character in High Plains Drift is like his name suggests. He has no ties to anyone or moral com to guide him and treats the people around him horribly. He assaults several women in the film, destroys a town, and leaves the audience certain that he is the real villain the entire time. Though few characters in the film have any redeeming qualities, The Stranger is especially brutal. This is because of how he uses his power over others. Instead of protecting others with his skills as a hero would, he hurts them.

Though few characters in the film have any redeeming qualities, The Stranger is especially brutal.

3 Silence

The Great Silence (1968)

Silence (Jean-Louis Trintignant) doesn't say a word for the entirety of The Great Silence, as he is mute, as his name suggests. However, he doesn't need words, only actions, to communicate his formidable abilities. He's on a desolate path of vengeance with the singular goal of taking his revenge on his parents' killers. Part of what makes Silence so intimidating is his unforgiving silence and ability to make his enemies draw their weapons first, so it always appears that he is acting in self-defense. Though his story doesn't end happily, he is only sorry that he didn't get his revenge.

2 El Topo

El Topo (1970)

Directed by and starring Alejandro Jodorowsky, El Topo is a surrealist film that reflects Jodorowsky's personal journey toward self-actualization. The title character, El Topo, goes on an odyssey to find a group of men who slaughtered a village, but he leaves a bloody trail in his wake. Early in the film, he sexually assaults the woman he's traveling with, and the film never addresses the issues with it, framing this violence as part of each character's journey. Who he fights for and where his loyalties lie change frequently throughout the film, making El Topo a mysterious and sinister figure.

1 William Munny

Unforgiven (1992)

Eastwood's Will Munny is not only one of the best Western movie protagonists but also the one that should never be crossed. Also directed by Eastwood, Unforgiven is an unforgettable addition to the Western genre and subverts the tropes while celebrating them in equal measure. Will Munny is a retired career criminal who quickly reverts to the cold-blooded killer he once was as soon as he's back on the job. In this way, Munny represents the Western genre itself, making him all the more dangerous.

He's aging and beginning to feel irrelevant but he proves himself to be far more capable than any of the young upstarts who claim to be stronger and faster than he ever was. In the final moments of the film, there's an iconic gunfight where Munny decimates a group of men in a saloon, barely lifting a finger. Though the antagonists he fights against are morally bankrupt, the film leaves the audience questioning if Munny is any better.