*** This review may contain spoilers ***

*Plot and ending analyzed*

This Western was extremely difficult to find for many years. I have not seen it since when it was first released. But I caught it recently and found it interesting.

It is quite unusual. It almost seems strange and ambiguous in some ways. A very existential Western. I liked it, even though it is entirely average and ridiculous in a few places.

The introduction starts off fairly quickly with some double crossing betrayal. That sets the stage for the absolutely fantastic Western titular song, "Rider on a Dead Horse", sung by Millard Woods.

If you love Western movie songs like, "Gun Fight at OK Corral", sung by Frankie Laine, "The 3:10 to Yuma", sung by Frankie Laine, "5 Card Stud", sung by Dean Martin, then you will probably have "Rider on a Dead Horse", sung by Millard Woods, in your head for days.

The Arizona desert scenery is very bleak and austere, as if only the principle characters exist in the setting. The movie has the feel of a theatrical play since they did not have a budget for many extras.

I don't know why actor John Vivyan did not get any other Western movie roles, or why he did not go to Spain in the 1960s or 1970s to do Spaghetti Westerns. He was definitely capable, and was better than a lot of the wooden actors that they used.

The only other low budget Western that is similar to this one is, Five Bloody Graves (1969). Another strange Western movie.

I got a Portuguese VHS version and the song was not cut out. I've noticed a few English DVD versions without the song and introductory title and credits.

This is definitely a nice little Western movie to see.

Further: Mark of the Gun (1969), Five Bloody Graves (1969), Four Fast Guns (1960), The Quiet Gun (1957),The Shooting (1966).