If you get the American DVD of this movie, you'll see on the back of the box that the manufacturer states that MATALO! is "...perhaps the strangest spaghetti western ever made and an exercise in style over content." To put it mildly! This movie seems to have been directed by an insane mind. There were a few things I liked about it. There are some striking images (the sun shining in the camera, a priest being surrounded by a ring of riders, etc.), and the electronic score by Mario Migliardi is very memorable with its electronic tones (including electric guitars) and traditional spaghetti western tones such as bells. The boomerang climax is also memorable.
Unfortunately, despite a few good elements like these, I didn't overall care for this movie - and I usually like spaghetti westerns. The movie is very slow-moving, and the characters mostly act alike (and are also mostly confusing in their plans and schemes). Frankly, I was exhausted by the end by the movie's relying on flashy camera movements to cover up that nothing much was happening. Even if you are a spaghetti western lover like I am, you would be better off rewatching one of your favorite spaghetti westerns than take a look at this.
Unfortunately, despite a few good elements like these, I didn't overall care for this movie - and I usually like spaghetti westerns. The movie is very slow-moving, and the characters mostly act alike (and are also mostly confusing in their plans and schemes). Frankly, I was exhausted by the end by the movie's relying on flashy camera movements to cover up that nothing much was happening. Even if you are a spaghetti western lover like I am, you would be better off rewatching one of your favorite spaghetti westerns than take a look at this.