Conclusion

This chapter suggests this book puts forward no more than the idea that films reflect the ideological contestations of the time and place of their inception, or that they reflect the anxieties of the periods in which they have been made. The films under consideration have been shown to reinforce the myth of America, endorse the use of extreme force in dealing with enemies, highlight the importance of defending the homeland, provide exhilarating escapist entertainment, deliver a virtual experience of visceral body abuse, immerse audiences within an ahistorical postmodern space, foreground religious concepts of forgiveness and redemption, and contribute towards a contemporary western culture of fear. It is argued that what we have on offer are ‘War on Terror’ Westerns.