Legend of the Phantom Rider

Bought this movie on DVD at a popular rental place that was going out of business. I figured, at five bucks, it was worth a watch.

I thought it a pretty fair western with a heavy Spaghetti influence. Good camera work, good sets and decent storyline. Acting was fair from most of the supporting cast. But the "Phantom" and "Blade" characters were both ridiculously overplayed, and neither looked as if they belonged on the same set with the rest of the cast. Maybe this was intentional, as they were both supposed to be supernatural entities. But if that's the case, it didn't really work.

Overall, I can see the vision the filmmakers were going for, but they fell short in many aspects. This story needs to be retold by someone who can do it justice.

Alex Erkiletian's "Legend Of The Phantom Rider" of 2002 is, as far as I am considered a rather boring and crappy attempt of a Horror Western, and I am actually a big fan of Horror Westerns.

According to the film, an ancient legend says that good and pure evil face each other in man-shape once in a few centuries. In 1865, a little town somewhere in the West is terrorized by a gang of outlaws lead by a former confederate called 'Blade' and his right hand man 'Suicide'. Sarah Jenkins (Denise Crosby), whose husband and son were murdered by villainous Blade and who has to take care of her little daughter on her own, is especially victimized by the gang, and desperately tries to convince the townspeople to fight back. But then a creepy, mysterious stranger turns up, and he turns out to be extremely fast with his guns. Thenceforward, the brutal gangsters have to learn what fear is every time the eerie man with the fast guns shows up. Blade, however, doesn't seem the least bit afraid...

"Legend Of The Phantom Rider" is basically just the same old western tale of good vs. evil, which the makers of this movie tried to spice up with a little bit of creepiness. This turned out to be a failed attempt, however, since the movie is not really creepy, the mysterious 'Phantom Rider' may look a little creepy, but that's basically it. The movie is also said to be very violent by some, but it is by far not as brutal as it is hyped to be. Most of the acting is terrible, the only actor I liked in this was Irvin Keyes (in the role of an Outlaw named Bigfoot), simply for the reason that he has got to be one of the ugliest looking people I have seen in a movie. The constant drum score, which would normally be intended to build up suspense in some parts of a movie, but certainly not throughout the whole movie is more than annoying.

To be fair, "Legend Of The phantom Rider" is not a completely terrible failure. It has some stylish moments, in some parts of the movie the photography is quite good, there is some good gunplay and the mysterious stranger looks quite creepy. This is a bearable movie, but certainly not a good one. If you are looking for a good Horror-Western, I would recommend movies like Giulio Questi's great surreal Spaghetti Western "Se Sei Vivo Spara" aka. "Django Kill... If You Live Shoot!" of 1967 instead.

All things considered, "Legend Of The Phantom Rider" is not a movie that has to be avoided at all costs, but it is definitely rather crappy. Bearable 3/10

This movie comes as a refreshing surprise in a world - the horror movies scenario - that is normally very dull and predictable. This is a perfect mixture - perhaps too slow sometimes, but still effective - of a supernatural tale (a couple of eternal avatars who fight one against the other across the space and time) with a classic western tale, built around the usual ghost town of the late Civil War era. Good acting, good atmosphere, very good photography, make this movie a one of kind experience, full of ethereal surprises, often recalling other not forgotten movies (like several Clint Eastwood ones) and especially in the character of the disfigured stranger the old, good comic book Jonah Hex.

I saw this film on video and was surprised at the quality. The story was good and intriguing. It is one of those rare films that you really aren't sure what you think while you're watching it, but you can't get out of your head afterwards.

This film reminds me of other mind twisters like Nomads and Eyes of Fire.

Interesting but failed attempt to mix western and horror. There's just not enough horror in it, that's pretty much the problem with it. The titular character (aka Pelgidium) has no background story whatsoever (Why the hell does he do what he does?). The prologue-scene is incomprehensible (compared to the rest of the story) and all-in-all, there's not really much going on in this movie. But it does have Angus Scrimm in a supporting roll and Pelgidium's face actually looks like he could have been the brother of Jenifer (from Dario Argento's MOH-episode). I'll just be a softie again and not flunk this dusty baby, because, well, it doesn't really deserve to be flunked. The leading scorned woman is portrayed by Denise Crosby from "Pet Semetary" and (fans of spectacular cheesy 80's action sci-fi rejoice!) Charles Band's "Eliminators"!