10 Must-See Westerns That Influenced DAMSEL

The Zellner Brothers’ newest film, DAMSEL, opens today at AFS Cinema. This re-invention of the western genre shows off some of their trademarks—it’s unpredictable, contains a unique brand of humanism, and features their off-kilter sense of humor. We asked David and Nathan Zellner to share their shortlist of westerns that influenced their take on the genre.

JOHNNY GUITAR (1954)
Directed by Nicolas Ray | trailer
Rent it today from Vulcan Video or I LUV VIDEO. Also available on various streaming platforms.

HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER (1973)
Directed by Clint Eastwood | trailer
Rent it today from Vulcan Video or I LUV VIDEO. Also available on various streaming platforms.

EL TOPO (1970)
Directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky | trailer
Rent it today from Vulcan Video or I LUV VIDEO. Also available on various streaming platforms.

DEAD MAN (1995)
Directed by Jim Jarmusch | trailer
Screening at AFS Cinema this July! Also available at Vulcan Video, I Luv Video, and streaming services.

BAD COMPANY (1972)
Directed by Robert Benton | trailer
Rent it today from Vulcan Video or I LUV VIDEO. Also available on various streaming platforms.

FORTY GUNS (1957)
Directed by Samuel Fuller | trailer
Rent it today from Vulcan Video or I LUV VIDEO. Also available on various streaming platforms.

ONE-EYED JACKS (1961)
Directed by Marlon Brando | trailer
Rent it today from Vulcan Video or I LUV VIDEO. Also available on various streaming platforms.

RIO BRAVO (1959)
Directed by Howard Hawks | trailer
Rent it today from Vulcan Video or I LUV VIDEO. Also available on various streaming platforms.

THE TERROR OF TINY TOWN (1938)
Directed by Sam Newfield | trailer
Rent it today from Vulcan Video or I LUV VIDEO. Also available on various streaming platforms.

THE SHOOTING (1966)
Directed by Monte Hellman | trailer
Rent it today at Vulcan Video! Also available on various streaming platforms.