Fasthand (1973)
3/10
Scraping the bottom of the barrel
14 November 2007
Towards the end of the Italian western wave, ca. 1972-74, the movies tried either to be comedies or particularly violent. "Mi chiamavano Requiescat, ma avevano sbagliato" is an example for the latter, including bloody killings (for example with a fork through the throat) and torture with a branding iron. Madison (Alan Steel of 'Hercules' fame) has his right hand crippled by the bandit Machedo (William Berger). Madison decides to become an avenger, so he buys a black coat, black boots, a black hat and a black horse for the right look. For two years, he follows Machedo's gang, waiting the perfect time to strike. This opportunity comes when he can hide gold from a bank robbery. Madison knows this will attract Machedo, but the most interesting question of the movie is: how can he shoot him, because he can't use his right hand?

Alan Steel remains expressionless, while Berger is overacting. Not much to be seen of a director's style (Bianchi continued his career directing adult movies!) and the music is somewhat too modern for a western. The buildings of the western town have seen better times and are almost falling to pieces. A very, very cheap production scraping the bottom of the barrel. Worth a look for fans of William Berger, maybe, as he plays a really mean villain.
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