HATE FOR HATE

 

This is a 1967 Euro Western that I was not aware of (its original title is ODIO PER ODIO). It turned up on Turner Classic Movies earlier this week. 

The movie stars Antonio Sabato as Miguel, a poor Mexican prospector who is trying to raise enough money to move to New York and become an artist, and John Ireland as James Cooper, a bandit who is hoping that after one last robbery he can go back to his wife and daughter, who he has not seen in years. Circumstances bring Miguel and Cooper together--the bank that Cooper and his backstabbing partner Moxon (Mirko Ellis) broke into happened to hold Miguel's life savings. After some misunderstandings, the duo join forces to go after Moxon and his gang. 

Despite its title, HATE FOR HATE has a jaunty air about it at times. The charismatic Miguel always has a big grin on his face, and John Ireland lacks the intensity that most vengeance-obsessed Spaghetti Western protagonists have. The pairing of a cocky youngster and a middle-aged gunman is a common one in Euro Westerns, and the element of Cooper's wife and daughter adds some drama, although the situation isn't explored properly. 

HATE FOR HATE is a decent enough production, but there isn't much in it to make it stand out. There is a brief shootout in a rainstorm, and Cooper happens to be dying of malaria that he contracted while in prison, but the movie overall lacks style and energy. Spaghetti Western veteran Fernando Sancho makes an appearance, and honestly he would have made a much better main villain than Mirko Ellis. 

One Domenico Paolella directed this film, and among the multiple screenwriters are such Euro Cult names as Fernando Di Leo and Bruno Corbucci. The best thing about HATE FOR HATE is the engaging lead performance by Antonio Sabato.