A young woman is mistreated after a stagecoach robbery in Arizona and left for dead (Carey), but a solitary Apache carefully tends to her recovery (Silva). They eventually join forces to seek justice. John Anderson portrays the righteous lawman leading the posse, while Keenan Wynn appears as the leader of a group of criminals. "The Animals" (1970), also known as “Five Savage Men,” is an obscure ‘B’ Western that served as inspiration for "Hannie Caulder" (1971) and "I Spit on Your Grave" (1978). Michele was 27 years old during filming and, at the time, one of the most beautiful women alive. You may recognize her from “El Dorado” (1966), “Live a Little, Love a Little” (1968) and “Dirty Dingus Magee” (1970). The musical score was composed by Rupert Holmes, known for his hit “Escape (The Pina Colada Song).” It initially feels questionable because of its modern style that seems out of place in an Old West setting; however, other Westerns had already established this trend during the 1960s. Fortunately, the music improves throughout, with some sections featuring notable percussion and others that are quite moving. Most reviews are rather negative, but I suspect this is due to the initial unfavorable impression created by the score and the technical limitations of what’s likely the only available print. It's true it was made on a low budget and shares similarities in tone with "Cry Blood, Apache," but it surpasses that brutal and bleak revenge story. The film offers more than just a violent crime/revenge narrative; its focus lies on a noble 'savage' who contrasts the five Caucasian aggressors from the beginning. He develops an unusual connection with the white woman at a time when such relationships were socially unacceptable. Anyone who finds this unrealistic should remember that Apache men then were people like us today—they weren’t all identical. Occasionally, there were individuals who stood apart and could be considered outcasts; this seems to be the case here. The final act shifts toward the expected vengeance plot seen in "Hang 'Em High" (1968), but the conclusion is unexpected, providing a lesson on how even someone of noble character can misjudge another person or people and commit an offense. That’s why the bible advises against judgment until enough accurate information has been gathered to make a fair assessment; and, even then, caution is necessary. There are also some surprising creative touches, such as the well-executed Apache stare-down sequence and the fistfight over a woman in the street. I also disagree with those who dismiss “The Animals” as merely copying Spaghetti Westerns. It's an American production filmed entirely in Arizona, and I could point to numerous other American Westerns that influenced it. Don’t assume Sergio Leone's “Man With No Name” trilogy was completely original either. For example, Ennio Morricone's score for "A Fistful of Dollars" incorporates a piece clearly inspired by Dimitri Tiomkin's outstanding "El Degüello" from "Rio Bravo" (1959). Unlike the stereotypical caricatures found in Italian Westerns, this film presents genuine characters. The central relationship is genuinely touching and adds to its appeal. The movie runs for 1 hour, 26 minutes, and was filmed in Arizona locations like Saguaro National Park, Old Tucson, Sonoran Desert, Sierrita Mountains, and Santa Cruz River. GRADE: B

Source on TMDB