Shoot the Living, Pray For the Dead is a 1971 spaghetti western film directed by Giuseppe Vari. The movie follows a man named Dan Hogan (Klaus Kinski) who is released from prison after serving time for a crime he didn't commit. Hogan sets out to clear his name and seek revenge against those who set him up. The movie begins with Hogan being released from prison and immediately making his way to the nearest town. Once there, he comes across a group of bandits who are holding up a stagecoach. Hogan intervenes and manages to take out the bandits single-handedly. The passengers in the stagecoach are grateful for his help and offer to buy him a drink.
While in the town, Hogan learns that his former partner, Slim (Victoria Zinny) and her gang are still running their criminal activities. He realizes that Slim is the one who framed him for the crime he was imprisoned for. Hogan seeks out Slim and challenges her to a duel. She accepts and the two engage in a gunfight. Slim is killed and Hogan is now free to redeem his reputation.
As Hogan rides out of town, he hears gunshots and goes to investigate. He comes across a group of Mexicans being attacked by a group of bandits. Hogan once again intervenes and defends the Mexicans from the bandits. The Mexicans are grateful for his help and offer him a place to stay in their village.
Hogan stays with the Mexicans and begins to fall in love with one of the women, Anita (Annabella Incontrera). However, the bandits continue to attack the village and Hogan realizes that he needs to take action to protect them. He trains the villagers in how to defend themselves and leads them in an attack against the bandits.
Throughout the movie, Hogan is haunted by flashbacks of his time in prison and the injustice that was done to him. He struggles to come to terms with his past and find a way to move forward. As the movie progresses, he becomes more and more determined to clear his name and seek revenge against those who wronged him.
Shoot the Living, Pray For the Dead is a typical spaghetti western in many ways. It features an antihero protagonist who is seeking revenge and a lot of gunfights. However, the movie also has a strong theme of redemption and justice. Hogan is not just seeking revenge for himself, but also to make things right for those who were wronged by Slim and her gang.
The movie also features some great cinematography, particularly in the scenes set in the Mexican village. The use of color and framing adds a lot to the atmosphere of the movie. The music, composed by Bruno Nicolai, is also excellent and helps to set the tone for many of the scenes.
Overall, Shoot the Living, Pray For the Dead is an enjoyable spaghetti western that will appeal to fans of the genre. While it may not have the same level of recognition as some of the more famous spaghetti westerns, it is definitely worth watching for those who enjoy this type of movie.
Shoot the Living, Pray For the Dead is a 2008 western with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes.
