HATE FOR HATE (ODIO PER ODIO) (director/writer: Domenico Paolella; screenwriter: Mario Amendola/Fernando Di Leo/Bruno Corbucci; cinematographers: Giovanni Bergamini/Alejandro Ulloa; editor: Sergio Montanari; music: Willy Brezza; cast: John Ireland (James Cooper), Antonio Sabato (Miguel), Gloria Milland (Maria), Mirko Ellis (Moxon), Nadia Marconi (Juana ), Fernando Sancho (Coyote), Piero Vida (Sorito); Runtime: 79; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Italo Zingarelli; Warner Archive; 1967-Italy-in English)
“Entertaining but flawed spaghetti western.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Entertaining but flawed spaghetti western made in Italy by eclectic Italian film critic turned filmmaker Domenico Paolella(“The Prey”/”Story of a Cloistered Nun“/”Challenge of the Gladiator”). Paolella directed all kinds of films including swashbucklers, horror, musicals, political and Mafia films. “Hate” is a revenge Western that tries, without complete success, into blending together the Italian and American western. It’s co-written by Paolella, Mario Amendola, Fernando Di Leo, and Bruno Corbucci.
Aging notorious career-life bank robber James Cooper (John Ireland), anticipating this as his last heist before going across the border to retire in Vera Cruz with wife (Gloria Milland) and child in tow, partners with psychopathic killer Moxon (Mirko Ellis) to rob a bank in a sleepy American border town, whereby all the bank personnel are slaughtered by Moxon in the otherwise successful robbery. In the desert getaway, bank robber Cooper foils Moxon’s attempt to kill him by tossing him off the moving wagon and returns the money of aspiring artist Miguel (Antonio Sabato) he deposited in the robbed bank when they meet on the trail.
Unfortunately Moxon lives and goes after Cooper and the gold. Cooper meanwhile gets arrested for the murder/heist before reaching Mexico and in the swamp-located prison comes down with malaria. Moxon meets the wrongly accused Miguel in the prison and learns his wife was slaughtered. After initially believing Miguel was the culprit, he becomes convinced of his innocence and teams with the Mexican to hunt down Moxon.
It has all the ingredients for a spaghetti western including the usual stylish visuals, but offers softer features which don’t always pan out as a true spaghetti western.
REVIEWED ON 8/8/2014 GRADE: B-
Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”
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