Though you might think that with the title "Seven Dollars On The Red" that this spaghetti western centers around gambling, it doesn't - it's just a reference to something that quickly happens in the opening sequence. This bait and switch does not ruin the movie, but plenty of other things make this particular spaghetti western below average. Many of these problems can be blamed on the script. The movie is poorly plotted at times, jumping ahead twenty or so years at one point with no warning or proper transition, and containing plenty of padding that ranges from gratuitous and inconsequential action to characters feebly engaging in dialogue that does not advance the story at all. To be fair, the script does have a little interest with the story of the hero's long lost son becoming an outlaw and eventually crossing guns with his father, but this part of the plot is surprisingly underused. The direction lacks flair for the most part, with a slow pace and action sequences that simply lack excitement, which may explain why Anthony Steffen sleepwalks as the heroic lead. Fernando Sancho, as usual in this genre, adds a little fun as the scummy bandit leader. And there is some interesting background scenery here and there. But apart from those two things, there's little else to make this spaghetti western satisfying to genre fans.
Review of Seven Dollars to Kill
