Death Rides a Horse

A man sets out to hunt the outlaws responsible for his family's massacre. The criminals have since abandoned their life of crime. The film, released as a Spaghetti Western, stars Lee Van Cleef and John Philip Law in the storyline.

Death Rides a Horse is a programme presented in the format of a movie. It falls squarely within the spaghetti‑western tradition, delivering the genre’s characteristic blend of frontier settings and stark, minimalist storytelling. The story follows a lone man whose family has been slaughtered by a gang of outlaws. Driven by revenge, he sets out to hunt down the perpetrators, only to discover that the men responsible have since abandoned their criminal ways. The film stars Lee Van Cleef, who takes on the role of the vengeful protagonist, and John Philip Law, who appears as one of the former bandits now living a quieter life. Their performances anchor the narrative, providing the necessary gravitas for the tale’s moral complexity. Although the plot centres on a personal quest for retribution, the backdrop remains firmly rooted in the conventions of the spaghetti western, with its stark landscapes and terse dialogue underscoring the protagonist’s relentless pursuit. The juxtaposition of past violence against the outlaws’ current pacifism adds a subtle tension that drives the film’s final confrontations.