Oct 18, 2013 By Lou Gaul calkins Media Film Critic 2 min read

Some Clint Eastwood fans may wonder why his 1973 favorite “High Plains Drifter” is getting an extreme makeover in time for the Halloween season.

That’s because it’s not a cowboy tale. It’s a ghost story.

“High Plains Drifter: 40th Anniversary Edition” ($19.99) is available for the first time digitally re-mastered and fully restored from high resolution 35mm and original film elements. The title is also available on DVD ($14.99).

Eastwood immediately recognized the appeal of this morality tale about a sheriff (stuntman Buddy Van Horn) who’s brutally beaten with bullwhips by the culprits who want him to go against the law. The lawman begs the townspeople help him, but his pleas for help are ignored by Bible quoting “decent folks” residents, and he seems to just melt away under the blistering sun.

Some years later, a familiar looking gunman calling himself The Stranger (Eastwood) arrives at the corrupt town and physically, emotionally, mentally and sexually attacks the self-serving residents. Eastwood turns the picture into a revenge tale with supernatural element s and punishment to spare. (Be warned that the R-rated film contains some unsettling violence against women.)

The actor/director also deftly slips in some messages about the abominable treatment of Native Americans in the early days of our country.

Eastwood fans should be dazzled by the re-mastered image that seems as fresh as when Eastwood screened the film four decades ago for the executives at Universal Pictures.

According to The Clint Eastwood Archive, “High Plains Drifter” has a “dedication” to Sergio Leone and Don Siegel, who directed him in “The Man With No Name” franchise and in “Dirty Harry,” respectively. Both directors were alive at the time of the dedication.