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The Stalking Moon

The Stalking Moon

Western · 1968

While moving a group of Apaches to a Native American reservation in Arizona, an American scout named Sam Varner is surprised to find a white woman, Sarah Carver, living with the tribe. When Sam learns that she was taken captive by an Indian named Salvaje ten years ago, he attempts to escort Sarah and her half-Native American son to his home in New Mexico. However, it soon becomes clear that Salvaje is hot on their trail.

Movie details

The Stalking Moon

“He comes with the stalking moon. Silently. Relentlessly. And when he comes there is no place to hide.”

1968 Western 1h 49m

Critical arithmetic

The consensus, allegedly.

IMDb

6.6 / 10

3.5K votes

Rotten Tomatoes

40 %

Tomatometer

TMDB

5.9 / 10

Community rating

External scores via OMDb · CC BY-NC 4.0. Values normalized for display; availability varies by title.

While moving a group of Apaches to a Native American reservation in Arizona, an American scout named Sam Varner is surprised to find a white woman, Sarah Carver, living with the tribe. When Sam learns that she was taken captive by an Indian named Salvaje ten years ago, he attempts to escort Sarah and her half-Native American son to his home in New Mexico. However, it soon becomes clear that Salvaje is hot on their trail.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Stalking Moon?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Robert Mulligan

Written by

Alvin Sargent

Gregory Peck

Gregory Peck

Sam Varner

Eva Marie Saint

Eva Marie Saint

Sarah Carver

Robert Forster

Robert Forster

Nick Tana

Noland Clay

Noland Clay

Boy

Russell Thorson

Russell Thorson

Ned

Frank Silvera

Frank Silvera

Major

Lonny Chapman

Lonny Chapman

Purdue

Court is in session

Put The Stalking Moon on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Patience is part of the point.”

Duration becomes texture. The film asks you to inhabit its world instead of merely processing its plot.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“A test of endurance, your honour.”

Stillness keeps submitting itself as meaning. At some point, contemplation needs something worth contemplating.