Pale Rider

Name: Pale Rider
Genre: Western
Released: June 28, 1985
Duration: 115 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Carrie Snodgress, Charles Hallahan, Chris Penn, Clint Eastwood, Doug McGrath

1985

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Ratings

See All

7.5

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.5	Your Score
7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Pale Rider

Now Playing: Pale Rider

Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: June 28, 1985 | R

Starring: Carrie Snodgress, Charles Hallahan, Chris Penn, Clint Eastwood, Doug McGrath, John Russell, Michael Moriarty, Richard Dysart, Richard Kiel, Sydney Penny

Summary: A mysterious preacher (Clint Eastwood) protects a humble prospector village from a greedy mining company trying to encroach on their land.

Director: Clint Eastwood

Genre(s): Western

Rating: R

Runtime: 115 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

No actor is more aware of his own instruments, and Eastwood demonstrates that in Pale Rider, a film he dominates so completely that only later do we realize how little we really saw of him. Read full review

Dave Kehr

Though the metaphysical overtones of the screenplay are sometimes awkwardly handled and Eastwood's direction of actors (other than himself) is occasionally uncertain, this was one of the better American films of 1985. Read full review

Vincent Canby

This veteran movie icon handles both jobs with such intelligence and facility I'm just now beginning to realize that, though Mr. Eastwood may have been improving over the years, it's also taken all these years for most of us to recognize his very consistent grace and wit as a film maker. Read full review

Bill Cosford

It's beautiful, too. Westerns just don't work without scenery, and Bruce Surtees, the cinematographer, shoots postcards. [28 June 1985, p.1]

Gene Siskel

Pale Rider may be a risk simply because westerns are not in vogue right now at the box office, but fresh and challenging westerns with Clint Eastwood always will be in vogue. Read full review

Richard Corliss

When Eastwood, who also directed the picture (from a Michael Butler-Dennis Shryack script), faces off against Russell's Maleficent Seven, viewers may get an old-fashioned western tingle. But Pale Rider does nothing to disprove the wisdom that this genre is best left to the revival houses. A double feature of Shane and Eastwood's High Plains Drifter will do just fine, thanks. Read full review

David Ansen

By the time Pale Rider wends its solemn, deliberate way to the final showdown, all of its tantalizing potential has bitten the dust. The woefully inadequate screenplay by Michael Butler and Dennis Shryack takes every mundane turn available, reneging on its mythical promises. [1 July 1985, p.55]

SEE ALL 13 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Robwinz

Jul 31, 2020

Pale Rider is honestly a masterpiece. The plot is great, the acting is top notch, the characters are enjoyable from start to finish and the action throughout this movie is honestly very bloody but it's godly. Overall, it's a western masterpiece and I'd honestly recommend it if you love thesePale Rider is honestly a masterpiece. The plot is great, the acting is top notch, the characters are enjoyable from start to finish and the action throughout this movie is honestly very bloody but it's godly. Overall, it's a western masterpiece and I'd honestly recommend it if you love these bloody but brilliant western movies, it's worth the watch.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

WalterTSolley

Dec 26, 2017

Clint Eastwood rifts on George Stevens’ western masterpiece “Shane” with the soul of a master jazz musician. There are moments that don’t quite work, where he seeks but doesn’t quite find the right note or phrasing, but the whole is a work of rare beauty. Mr. Eastwood directs and stars,Clint Eastwood rifts on George Stevens’ western masterpiece “Shane” with the soul of a master jazz musician. There are moments that don’t quite work, where he seeks but doesn’t quite find the right note or phrasing, but the whole is a work of rare beauty. Mr. Eastwood directs and stars, excelling in both. Bruce Surtees cinematography is among his finest work and Joel Cox’s editing is breathtakingly elegant. Carrie Snodgress, underrated and not seen in films nearly enough, gives a remarkably realized performance.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

r96sk

Jan 31, 2022

This is a good'un.

'Pale Rider' features an enjoyable story featuring the gold rush, while the characters are all solid - Clint Eastwood gives a strong performance in the lead role, though I would've liked to have seen more of John Russell and his character. I don't think it's perfect orThis is a good'un.

'Pale Rider' features an enjoyable story featuring the gold rush, while the characters are all solid - Clint Eastwood gives a strong performance in the lead role, though I would've liked to have seen more of John Russell and his character.

I don't think it's perfect or anything, but I got entertainment from it and that's enough for me - I've not got much more to note.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Compi24

Apr 8, 2019

Clint Eastwood and westerns are synonymous for more reasons than just the "Dollars" trilogy, of course. And from what I've heard in my travels, this 1985 effort is one of the chief reasons why. For some, "Pale Rider" may come off as trite or tired in its efforts to improve upon the westernClint Eastwood and westerns are synonymous for more reasons than just the "Dollars" trilogy, of course. And from what I've heard in my travels, this 1985 effort is one of the chief reasons why. For some, "Pale Rider" may come off as trite or tired in its efforts to improve upon the western genre. But I think those individuals would be missing the point here. "Pale Rider" isn't looking to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it aims to take the more conventional aspects of the western genre and polish them up for the coming generation of filmgoers (at the time, that is). Do the cliches and tropes grow bothersome at times? Sure, but lacking in originality is far from the movie's crippling flaw. In fact, it's when this movie tries to be different that it sorely, sorely misses the mark, namely due to some unfortunate sub-plotting work on the part of the screenwriters. Overall though, yes, you could say the content in play is -- for the most part -- tried. But that's not to say it isn't also true.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 4 REVIEWS