When isn’t a Spaghetti Western really a Spaghetti Western? According to this film, the answer is Barquero. It carries all the hallmarks of what might be called a Pasta Oater—from its color photography and musical score to the rough-and-tumble dialogue delivered with exaggerated accents—making it obvious that the filmmakers drew inspiration from European cinema. And that’s perfectly acceptable because watching this movie is an absolute pleasure. The story centers on a game of cat and mouse played out across a river. On one side, Warren Oates leads a group of thieves trying to leave the country after a robbery; on the other, the townspeople are led by Lee Van Cleef’s Travis, who holds all the cards because he owns the ferry barge—the only way to cross the water. "I would give anything in the world to spend the night with you... Except my barge." What follows is a parallel look at the character dynamics on each side. Oates' Remy rules his gang with an iron fist, while Travis seems indifferent to the people he serves. The two men are vying for control not only of the barge but also of their own sense of self. Hostage situations arise, there’s plenty of glaring across the water, some intense violence, and it all builds up to a final battle that feels like something out of a Viking saga! Setting aside the occasionally cheesy dialogue—the best way to enjoy this film is just to go with it—it's clear that a lot of care went into its production. With two of the genre’s most compelling actors leading the cast, the performances are solid across the board. Supporting Cleef and Oates (both excellent) are Forrest Tucker, who provides comic relief as Travis’ hard-edged sidekick, and Kerwin Matthews, Remy's voice of reason. Though her role is limited, Mariette Hartley does well in the female part that challenges Travis’ masculinity. The Colorado locations look stunning, vividly captured in De Luxe Color. Dominic Frontiere’s score—a mix of Spaghetti Western sounds with military percussion—is fantastic, building to a crescendo at key moments. Gordon Douglas' direction is straightforward, keeping things interesting even during scenes focused on character development. And it’s worth noting the sound design (by Robert Miller and Ben Sad) is superb; the pounding hooves and gunfire are incredibly impactful. I watched this in HD on UK TCM through my home cinema system, and if possible, that's how I recommend experiencing it too! While it’s not a hidden gem due to its over-the-top characters and tongue-in-cheek writing, Barquero is an engagingly powerful and visually impressive film. 7.5/10

Source on TMDB