This movie is an excellent Western that stands on its own feet, without the rape-revenge or one-lone-hero tropes to fall back on. Discovering who Katie Elder is along with her sons is an engaging plot and propels the story well through to the end, providing a solid backdrop for the meaty character drama. This film has several good shootouts, as any good Western should, but it’s got much more going on. If you’re not particularly familiar with the Western genre, this is a very approachable place to start.

Closest comparison: It’s like Stagecoach by way of Shane.

Setting: Western
Plot: Detective
Tone: Family Drama