The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

Clint Eastwood is synonymous with the Hollywood western in American cinema. For my money, the westerns of Eastwood are far superior than those of John Wayne. There is a subtlety and nuance to his films and his performances. While not all of them are Hollywood classics, they are a great example of old-school craftsmanship, especially when he’s behind the camera.  He is behind the camera for “Pale Rider,” which is celebrating its 40^th anniversary with this 4K release.  It is a film I have not seen before, but after watching it for the first time, I fell in love with it immediately.

Our film is set in LaHood, California in Carbon Canyon, which is being run by an malevolent banker and a crooked marshal. The banker is named Coy LaHood, played by Richard Dysart. Since he doesn’t have the legal rights to kick the miners out of their homes, he uses violence and intimidation in an attempt to gain complete control of the land. This doesn’t sit right with Hull Barret, played by Michael Moriarty, as he’s trying to take care of his fiancée Sarah (Carrie Snodgress) and her daughter Megan (Sydney Penny). However, he’s finding little to no support in his battle against LaHood.

Megan’s prayers for peace are answered by a man known as the Preacher, played by Eastwood. He’s a mysterious and shadowy figure who shows up to save Hull after he’s attacked by four of LaHood’s men. Megan was having a hard time seeing the silver lining in much of anything after her father left, her grandfather passed away, and her dog was killed.  LaHood has brought nothing but mayhem and destruction to Carbon Canyon.  The Preacher, however, is not only giving Megan hope, but he’s also giving hope and faith to everyone in Carbon Canyon. They are not going to be kicked out of their homes, and they will not be bought off.

Westerns are often hit or miss with me as a film critic. When they are done with interesting characters, beautiful cinematography and focus on the quiet introspective moments, they connect with me and I’m completely absorbed.  One of my favorite Westerns of all time is “Unforgiven,” which was also directed by Eastwood. It deals with the aftermath of the violence and the effect it has on those who have inflicted it on others. “Pale Rider” is about the people of Carbon Canyon and how they are trying to exist, survive, and live while under the thumb of LaHood.   Eastwood, in many ways, is a supporting character in his own film.  I imagine this was by design. When he does appear on screen, everything he does is thoughtful and understated. He has a terrific scene with Sydney Penny where he describes why they can’t be together romantically. It’s delicate and, in the hands of any other filmmaker, it would have been awkward and out of place.

It all leads to the big shootout between the Preacher and LaHood’s men along with Stockburn, the Marshal, played by John Russell.  The shootout scene is impactful because Eastwood is a patient director and he takes his time in building up to the grand finale.  At the end of the day, movies are simple—introduce us to characters we are invested in, set the stage, let the actors do their work, and get out of the way. Eastwood is one of the best in the business at doing that as a director, which is one of many reasons why he’s a Hollywood legend.

I’d also like to mention the work of Chris Penn in the film as LaHood’s son, Josh. Even though Sean Penn is more well-known and established as an actor, his brother Chris was a terrific character actor who really knew how to play a slimy and underhanded villain. I’ve always been a big fan of his work.  Michael Moriarty plays a good man who is trying to do the right thing while simultaneously trying to maintain his manhood at the same time.  In many ways, even though Eastwood receives top billing, he’s the lead in the film when it comes to screen time. Carrie Snodgress and Sydney Penny bring vulnerability, strength, and warmth to their performances. This is a terrific cast.

From start to finish, I was utterly engrossed in “Pale Rider,” and I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. There is a sense of mystery surrounding the Preacher character, and it is what keeps the story moving in a unique and captivating way.  I like to be kept on my toes. Overall, this is the kind of movie I love as a moviegoer.  The acting, from top-to-bottom, is phenomenal, the scenery is gorgeous, and the story is simple yet powerful. This is another in a long line of classic films from the great Clint Eastwood. The great thing about his filmography is there are still films of his I haven’t seen. He’s the gift that keeps on giving.

* * * ½ out of * * * *

4K Info: “Pale Rider” is being released on a single disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. The release comes with a beautiful slipcover and a digital copy as well.  There is a steelbook version of the film available for purchase if you are interested in steelbooks over slipcovers. I prefer slipcovers myself. The film has a running time of 116 minutes and is rated R.

4K Video Info: “Pale Rider” comes with a jaw-dropping 4K HDR transfer. The film looks magnificent. Westerns, in particular, are always a welcome addition to 4K.  The landscapes are enthralling to look at and the colors are lively and vivid.

4K Audio Info: The Dolby Atmos track is out of this world as it is peaceful during the quieter moments in the film but it comes to life during the action sequences. Subtitles are included in English, Spanish and French.

Special Features:

The Diary of Sydney Penny: Lessons from the Set – NEW

Painting the Preacher: Bruce Surtees and Pale Rider – NEW

Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic Legacy – Reinventing Westerns

Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story

The Eastwood Factor

Should You Buy It?

HELL YES! “Pale Rider” is a great film.  It was almost a perfect film, and I was very close to giving it four stars. In the end, I decided to give it three and a half stars, but when it comes to owning the 4K, it’s a no brainer.  There are also new special features on this disc! So many physical media collectors often complain about the lack of new special features, but there are two new special features on this 4K disc. In total, there are over three hours of special features here! Clint Eastwood and Warner Brothers have a special relationship, and this is one of their finest films.  The audio and visual aspects of the 4K are magnificent.  This is one of my favorite 4K releases of 2025 so far, and I can’t wait to watch “Dirty Harry” and “The Outlaw Josey Wales” on 4K from Warner Brothers. They hit a home run with this release, and you owe it to yourself to add this film to your collection. This one comes highly recommended.

**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free.  The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.