Clint Eastwood "Never Liked" This 91%-Rated Classic Western: "Ballet of Violence"

In 1969, Sam Peckinpah released The Wild Bunch, a movie that revolutionized the Western genre. However, considered one of the most influential Westerns of all time, the film left one of the most cult figures in the genre, Clint Eastwood, indifferent.

Here's why the director and actor didn't appreciate Sam Peckinpah's masterpiece.

'The Wild Bunch' Is a Renowned Western Classic – but Not For Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood acknowledges the greatness of The Wild Bunch – he calls it a good movie. However, his main complaint is the film's style:

“It was a good movie. But I've never been one for the slow-motion technique, the ballet of violence. It was very effective, and the predecessor to a lot of people trying to do the same thing, but I never liked it.”

Peckinpah used slow motion and rapid editing to transform shootouts into bloody spectacles, a revolutionary technique in 1969. However, Eastwood believes that drama lies in the anticipation before the action and the buildup of tension.

Eastwood said:

“I've always thought that drama is really the anticipation before the action happens, the build-up to it. And the action itself is like shuffling a deck of cards; so fast it's kind of unreal.”

What Is 'The Wild Bunch' About?

It's 1913, and the Wild West is coming to an end. The world is on the brink of World War I, and old cowboys feel obsolete. A gang of robbers led by Pike Bishop plans one last big heist, but they are ambushed.

The bounty hunters are led by a former friend of Pike's. The gang flees to Mexico, where they become caught up in the revolution. A ruthless general hires them and uses them for his own ends.

Sam Peckinpah Tried to Refresh the Western Genre With 'The Wild Bunch'

By the late 1960s, the Western genre had run its course – it was defined by pure heroes, bloodless shootouts, and moral certainty. Peckinpah set out to shatter this myth with The Wild Bunch, which he used to infuse the genre with a raw, uncomfortable realism.

He showed violence for what it is: dirty, brutal, and devoid of glory. Exploding charges, blood, slow motion, and an emphasis on bullet-riddled bodies were all meant to wash away the romantic gloss that had accumulated on the Western genre over the decades.

While the genre failed to revive commercially, its influence was undeniable. The Wild Bunch paved the way for the dark, morally ambiguous Westerns of the 1970s and beyond and ultimately influenced Eastwood's reinterpretations of the genre.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Wild Bunch'?

• The Wild Bunch has 91% from critics and 90% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.9/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Wild Bunch scored 4.1/5.0.

Where to Watch 'The Wild Bunch'?

The Wild Bunch is available to buy or rent on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.