Posse
A politically ambitious marshal discovers that capturing an outlaw does not guarantee the public’s allegiance.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- cynical
- sardonic
- tense
- classic western night
- political cinema viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly view the film as an energetic but uneven revisionist western whose strongest idea is its cynical reversal of heroic law enforcement and political authority.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Howard Nightingale's campaign presents law enforcement and criminality as overlapping forms of predation.
Nightingale pursues the capture of Jack Strawhorn chiefly to improve his Senate prospects.
After Nightingale succeeds in capturing the notorious criminal, public opinion turns against the supposed hero.
Released in the aftermath of Watergate, the film links frontier authority to modern skepticism about political leadership.
Films like Posse, and why
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
revisionist western treatment, morally compromised lawman, and cynical examination of political power
The Missouri Breaks
neo-western atmosphere, antiheroic institutions, and distrust of official authority
The Wild Bunch
western action mixed with political cynicism and a reversal of hero and villain roles
Movie Details
- Director
- Kirk Douglas
- Release Date
- 1975-06-04
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (82)
Cast
- Kirk Douglas
- Bruce Dern
- Bo Hopkins
- James Stacy
- Luke Askew
- David Canary
- Alfonso Arau
- Katherine Woodville
- Mark Roberts
- Beth Brickell
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Posse about?
- A politically ambitious marshal discovers that capturing an outlaw does not guarantee the public’s allegiance.
- What is Posse like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Posse as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Posse violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Posse as mild.
- What did critics think of Posse?
- Critics broadly view the film as an energetic but uneven revisionist western whose strongest idea is its cynical reversal of heroic law enforcement and political authority.
- Which films are like Posse?
- Films with a similar feel include McCabe & Mrs. Miller, The Missouri Breaks, and The Wild Bunch.
- How long is Posse?
- Posse runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch Posse?
- In United States, Posse is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
