The Clint Eastwood Western That ‘Tombstone’ Fans Need to See—And Roger Ebert Loved!

For fans of Tombstone looking for another classic Western that hits hard with both vivid action and deep character exploration, Clint Eastwood’s Pale Rider (1985) is a must-watch. While Tombstone has cemented its place as one of the most beloved Westerns, Pale Rider offers a dark, thought-provoking narrative that shares thematic ties with Tombstone while exploring the supernatural in a way that stands apart in the genre.

Directed, produced by, and starring Clint Eastwood, Pale Rider was the actor’s return to the Western genre after The Outlaw Josey Wales in 1976. It would also mark his last foray into Westerns until the Oscar-winning Unforgiven in 1992. Released by Warner Bros. in June 1985, Pale Rider became the highest-grossing Western of the 1980s, and though it may have been overshadowed by the release of Tombstone nearly a decade later, Pale Rider remains a staple of the genre.

The Premise of Pale Rider

Set in Carbon Canyon, California, Pale Rider follows the story of a mysterious figure named Preacher (played by Eastwood), who arrives in the town after the dog of villager Megan Wheeler (Sydney Penny) is killed by the men of mining magnate Coy LaHood (Richard Dysart). Megan prays for a miracle, and Preacher comes to the town, launching a campaign of vengeance against LaHood’s henchmen.

As Preacher takes down LaHood’s men with relentless efficiency, the mystery surrounding his true nature grows. Is Preacher alive, or is he something far more supernatural? This ambiguity is central to the film’s appeal, creating an atmosphere of suspense that mirrors some of the ghostly elements in Eastwood’s High Plains Drifter (1973). The film’s supernatural undertones set it apart from the more grounded Tombstone, but both movies deliver the same vivid, violent, and well-performed Western thrills.

Roger Ebert’s Glowing Review

One of the standout qualities of Pale Rider is how Eastwood uses the character of Preacher to subvert expectations. Renowned critic Roger Ebert gave the film a glowing four-star review, noting that Eastwood “dominates [the film] so completely that only later do we realize how little we really saw of him.” Ebert was particularly struck by the mysterious nature of Preacher, whose true identity and motivations are only revealed in hints and subtle storytelling moments.

Ebert emphasized that the film’s ambiguity about Preacher’s existence—whether he’s a man, a spirit, or something in between—was one of the movie’s strongest points. He wrote, “One of the subtlest things in the movie is the way it plays with the possibility that Eastwood’s character may be a ghost, or at least something other than an ordinary mortal.” The element of mythmaking, where Preacher seemingly disappears in the blink of an eye, adds a layer of intrigue to the film that sets it apart from the more traditional Westerns.

Eastwood’s Mastery of the Genre

While many have drawn comparisons between Pale Rider and the classic Western Shane (1953), Eastwood himself described his character as “an out-and-out ghost,” a stark contrast to the living protagonist of Shane. Ebert, too, saw the film as a fresh twist on the Man With No Name character Eastwood had popularized in the ’60s and ’70s, noting how the film retained the familiar stoicism of the character while injecting something new and otherworldly into the mix.

What also sets Pale Rider apart is how it embraces the dark side of the Western genre. The film’s bleak portrayal of violence and revenge feels much closer to the raw realities of the Old West than the more romanticized depictions of the genre. Eastwood’s direction of the film, as he both starred in and helmed the project, resulted in a movie that has a resonance that likely wasn’t even fully realized in the screenplay itself.

Tombstone’s Hidden Past and Ebert’s Unseen Review

Though Tombstone is now a quintessential Western, its release wasn’t without struggles. In 1993, when Tombstone was released, the studio and distributors had little faith in the film’s success and deliberately avoided pre-screening it to critics, fearing negative word-of-mouth would hurt its chances. Ironically, Ebert and his longtime partner Gene Siskel were unable to review the film in print ahead of its release. Despite Tombstone’s eventual success, it remained largely unseen by Ebert until later, which adds another layer to its history, given that Pale Rider was championed by the critic over a decade earlier.

Conclusion

For Tombstone fans looking for another action-packed Western with deep character work and striking performances, Pale Rider should be at the top of the list. While it’s set against a more supernatural backdrop, Eastwood’s portrayal of Preacher and his directorial vision share much in common with the gritty violence and moral complexity that makes Tombstone so beloved. Both films are timeless examples of the Western genre—Pale Rider for its haunting atmosphere and philosophical depth, and Tombstone for its unforgettable ensemble cast and iconic moments. As Roger Ebert would attest, Pale Rider remains a Western that has stood the test of time and deserves a watch for any fan of classic cinema.