Cowboy movies and horror films have been a firm favourite of audiences for decades. But, what happens when you blend the two together? Let's take a look at the development of the horror Western, and some of the top films to emerge from its rise.
What is Horror Western? Westerns have persisted as one of the most recognisable tropes in popular culture. The influence of the Western genre extends even beyond the film industry, inspiring a wide range of different media, from comics to figurines, cosplay to games. For example, Westerns are surprisingly one of the most popular themes for online casino games in the UK, particularly when looking to play
Slingo games for real money. There are a range of Western-inspired games, for example, Slingo Money Train uses classic iconography such as deserts, dynamite, and skulls to evoke the feeling of the Wild West, offering a unique and modern twist on this historical theme. Examples such as these show ever present influence of the Western in popular culture.
Due to this prevailing interest in the Western genre, more and more subgenres are increasing in popularity. From Space Western to Fantasy Western, these subgenres diversify the Western genre beyond the traditional movies of time past. However, one of the most niche-yet-popular of these is probably the Horror Western, a cross-genre of horror flicks and Western films. This genre was originated by classic films such as Edward Dein's Curse of the Undead (1959) and William Beaudine's Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1966), both introducing vampires into traditional Western settings.
The subgenre saw a resurgence in the 1990s
with From Dusk till Dawn (1996). Marketed as an action horror, the movie was written by Quentin Tarantino and starred George Clooney. Despite receiving mixed criticisms at the time of its release, it is considered a cult classic by modern Western horror enthusiasts over 20 years later. Other notable horror Westerns from the 90s include John Carpenter's Vampires (1998) and Antonia Bird's Ravenous (1999).
Modern Horror Western Recommendations Starting with the most recent, The Pale Door (2020) follows the aftermath of a train heist in the Wild West. The protagonists, who have lived a harrowing life up until this point, hold up in the town of Potemkin, which just so happens to be the hunting ground for a coven of witches. Starring Devin Druid and Zachary Knighton, Aaaron B. Koontz foray into horror Western is packed full of sinister symbolism and haunting vibes.
The Wind (2018) takes a fresh take on the horror Western, with punchy and ambitious jump scares. The feature
directorial debut of Emma Tammi, The Wind is unique in that it focuses on the female perspective of life in the late nineteenth century, exploring the isolation and desperation of life in the desert, yet with a supernatural twist.
However, arguably the best rated of all is Bone Tomahawk (2015), if not only for the acting chops of Kurt Russell and his fantastic 'tache. Another directorial debut, Bone Tomahawk is a milestone for S. Craig Zahler, combining the Western genre with elements of survival horror movies and psychological thrillers. Here, the monsters make for chilling viewing as they are not supernatural, but in fact representing the worst of humanity.
And there you have it - all the basics you need to know to get started in the world of horror Westerns. All that's left to do is grab your cowboy hat, kick back, and prepare to be scared!
