History Film / PaleRider

* DramaticGunCock: The Preacher methodically reloads his [[CoolGun Remington Model 1858 revolver]] by switching out preloaded cylinders. Each time he does it, he's out in the open, in plain view of Stockburn's men, with an unconcerned expression on his face, ''[[ImplacableMan because they can't stop him]]''.

* DontFearTheReaper: The Preacher seems to represent one of The Four Horsemen, Death specifically. It's to interpretation if he really is human, though.

* KickTheDog: The thugs shoot a cow and [[{{Anvilicious}} Megan's pet puppy]] in the opening scene. Later on, Stockburn's gang [[spoiler: kills one of the miners just for mouthing off.]]

* DefeatMeansFriendship: [[spoiler: Club ends up helping the Preacher in one of the last fights of the film, grabbing Josh [=LaHood=] as he's about to shoot Preacher InTheBack]], giving the Preacher a friendly smile. Preacher acknowledges the help with a hat tip.

* DefeatMeansFriendship: [[spoiler: Club ends up helping the Preacher in one of the last fights of the film, grabbing Josh [=LaHood=] as he's about to shoot Preacher InTheBack]], giving the Preacher a friendly smile.

%%* PluckyGirl: Megan

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Stockburn, the marshal, is a villainous take on the trope.

%%* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: [[spoiler: Narrowly [[AvertedTrope averted.]] The Preacher saves Megan in time.]]

* RapePillageAndBurn: Pillaging and burning appear in the beginning of the film, courtesy of the bad guy's {{mook}}s. The raping comes later, but the preacher intervenes to stop it going the course.
* RecycledPremise: The film can come across as a loose remake of ''Film/{{Shane}}''. Furthermore, with the heavily implied supernatural nature of The Preacher and the haunting main theme, it's also quite similar to Eastwood's directorial debut ''Film/HighPlainsDrifter'', albeit [[LighterAndSofter much less dark and nihilistic.]]

* SceneryPorn: Actually [[DownplayedTrope downplayed.]] There isn't ''too much'' emphasis on the surrounding environment, in this Western.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Six of [=LaHood=]'s men [[spoiler: try to shoot the Preacher in the back near the climax. Two survive since the preacher doesn't shoot people who are running away.]]

%%* BetterAsFriends: Megan's not too happy with this response.

%%* ChekhovsGun: Bison model
* CombatPragmatist: The Preacher is quite clever with his use of surroundings. And instead of fighting Club when they first meet, he manipulates him to help split a rock he an Hull were trying to break.
%%* ConservationOfNinjutsu

%%* DeadAllAlong: Much to the shock of Stockburn.
* DefeatMeansFriendship: [[spoiler: Club ends up helping the Preacher in one of the last fights of the film, grabbing Josh [=LaHood=] as he's about to shoot Preacher InTheBack]], giving the Preacher a friendly smile.
%%* DidTheyOrDidntThey: Preacher and Sarah.

%%* GroinAttack: Apparently the Preacher's not above this...

* NeverGotToSayGoodbye: After the Preacher leaves in the morning to deal with Stockburn and his deputies, Megan goes after him to give him a proper farewell only to [[MissedHimByThatMuch barely reach town after he just left]].

* SpiritualAntithesis: This film has a comparable setup to Eastwood's previous movie ''Film/HighPlainsDrifter since both movies are about a [[TheExpyWithNoName nameless gunfighter]] with [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane ambiguously supernatural abilities]] who helps defend a small town from violent thugs. However, the biggest difference is that Preacher and the gold panners are genuine heroes unlike the [[NominalHero Stranger and the town of Lago]].

%%* ItsPersonal: Implied, between Stockburn and the Preacher.

%%* NeverGotToSayGoodbye: Megan to Preacher at the end.

%%* RomancingTheWidow: Hull and Sarah

%%* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: [[spoiler: Sarah ends up with Hull]]
%%* SmittenTeenageGirl

%%* TheUnreveal

* BetterAsFriends: Megan's not too happy with this response.

* DeadAllAlong: Much to the shock of Stockburn.

* GroinAttack: Apparently the Preacher's not above this...

* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: [[spoiler: Narrowly [[AvertedTrope averted.]] The Preacher saves Megan in time.]]

* ItsPersonal: Implied, between Stockburn and the Preacher.

* NeverGotToSayGoodbye: Megan to Preacher at the end

* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: [[spoiler: Sarah ends up with Hull]]

* PragmaticVillainy: When [=LaHood=] threatens to bring in Stockton, the Preacher points out that he comes at a high price and it would be cheaper to buy the miners out. To the surprise of his men, [=LaHood=] accepts this. It's the miners themselves who turn down the offer.

Most of the miners are about to give in--except for [[PluckyGirl spunky protagonist Megan]], her mother, and their friend Hull Barret (Creator/MichaelMoriarty)--when the Preacher shows up. The Preacher intervenes on Hull's behalf, saving him from [=LaHood=]'s {{mook}}s. With some convincing from Hull and Megan, the rest of the miners unite behind the Preacher against [=LaHood=]. Unfortunately, [=La=]Hood also recognizes the threat posed by the Preacher and in retaliation he hires [[TheDragon Stockburn]], a corrupt [[USMarshal marshal]] with a deadly posse. It seems as though Stockburn and the Preacher have a history.

* VillainousRescue: Club attempts to intervene on the attempted gang-rape of Megan just before the Preacher shows up.

Most of the miners are about to give in--except for [[PluckyGirl spunky protagonist Megan]], her mother, and their friend Hull Barret--when the Preacher shows up. The Preacher intervenes on Hull's behalf, saving him from [=LaHood=]'s {{mook}}s. With some convincing from Hull and Megan, the rest of the miners unite behind the Preacher against [=LaHood=]. Unfortunately, [=La=]Hood also recognizes the threat posed by the Preacher and in retaliation he hires [[TheDragon Stockburn]], a corrupt [[USMarshal marshal]] with a deadly posse. It seems as though Stockburn and the Preacher have a history.

[[RecycledPremise No, this is not]] ''Film/{{Shane}}''. This is ''Pale Rider'', a 1985 {{Western}} directed by and starring Creator/ClintEastwood. Eastwood is cast as a [[NoNameGiven Preacher With No Name]] who crosses paths with a band of hapless gold miners hoping to strike it rich. The miners are often harassed by thugs hired by [[BigBad [=LaHood=]]], the CorruptCorporateExecutive of a local mining company, who hopes to drive them off the land.

* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: The Preacher shows evidence that he may be some kind of spirit, but the film never fully answers if he really is or if he's just an exceptional gunslinger.

%% ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.

* TheBrute: Club (played by Richard Kiel) is brought in to intimidate Preacher, but falls to a well-aimed GroinAttack.

* HiredGuns: Hull sort-of hires The Preacher with room and board. [=LaHood=] hires Stockburn and his boys.

* ConvenientlyTimedAttackFromBehind: [[spoiler: near the end, Hull kicks in the back door and kills [=Coy LaHood=], who is pointing his rifle out the window at the helpless Preacher.]]

* BadassPreacher: Comes with having ClintEastwood play him. [[spoiler: Even before he takes up his guns,]] he manages to keep the [=LaHoods=] at bay via mental intimidation.