Search - An Eye for an Eye on DVD

Low-budget western gets points for originality

T O'Brien | Chicago, Il United States | 11/11/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Rising above most low budget B-westerns, An Eye for An Eye is a step above because it tries to do something different with the plotline that you've most likely not seen in a western before. A farmer and former bounty hunter, Talion, comes home one day to find his wife and son murdered and their house burning, work of murderous bandit Ike Slant. On the trail for Slant, Talion meets another bounty hunter, Benny Wallace, so they form an uneasy partnership in hopes of getting Slant and his gang. But in a showdown with Slant, Talion's gun-hand is crippled and Benny is blinded. Now the only way the duo can defeat Slant is for Talion to tell Benny where and when to shoot. The tagline for the movie was 'the strangest gun in the west' and it's pretty dead-on. All around though, this was very enjoyable for a low-budget western, especially a crippled Talion and a blind Benny trying to figure out how to defeat Slant. It's not The Searchers or The Wild Bunch, but An Eye for An Eye is definitely worth a watch.

Typically a television actor, Robert Lansing takes the lead here as Talion, a former bounty hunter back on the trail for the man who murdered his family. Pat Wayne joins Talion as Benny Wallace, a young bounty hunter with a past trying to make a name for himself. The scenes of Talion shouting directions to Benny where to shoot are the high point of the movie as their relation develops; two men completely dependent on each other for survival. Slim Pickens has a rare bad-guy role as Ike Slant, the bandit with a grudge who goes after Talion's family. Pickens is really enjoying himself here playing the baddie. Gloria Talbot is good in a small part as Bri Quince, a young woman who takes an interest in Talion. Western character actors Paul Fix and Strother Martin join the supporting cast. And last, a very young Clint Howard is very good as Jo-Hi, Paul Fix's son who is curious as to what Talion and Benny are doing.

As for the DVD, no special features here, but there is a cleaned-up fullscreen presentation. The filming locations offer some beautiful shots in and around the Alabama Hills in California. Western fans take note, this is a good western with a twist. Give An Eye for An Eye a chance!"

Western with a twist

mark twain | Alberta | 10/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Great story,different,with a twist...great acting...great quality dvd...The story is about Talion(Robert Lansing)is out for revenge after his wife and son are murdered in a fire set deliberatly by Ike Slant(Slim Pickens).He soon meets up with Benny(Pat Wayne),a bounty hunter also after Slant for money.When a shoot-out with Slant's men leaves Benny blind and Tailon unable to shoot,the duo devises an extraordinary method to exact their revenge in a phenomenal,heart-dropping showdown.A classic western with a legendary cast...this review is for dvd shown,Lionsgate,Studio Canal...no extra's,full screen"