Set in the American South during the Civil War, a badly wounded Union soldier, John McBurney (Clint Eastwood), is taken in by a group of women and young girls at a secluded boarding school.
The film's tension arises from the interplay between McBurney, not exactly an upstanding gentleman, and the school's naive inhabitants. He becomes a captive object of desire for the young women, who are isolated from the outside world. The headmistress, Martha Farnsworth (Geraldine Page), is a complex figure, torn between her instincts, her partisanship and her own interests in the soldier.
"The Beguiled" is a more of a psychological gothic thriller than a western, with themes of power, manipulation, fear and desire. It's an odd tale that can be a bit uncomfortable in parts. Eastwood delivers a nuanced performance as the enigmatic soldier, capturing both his vulnerability and his cunning.
There's intermixed voice over, and flashbacks, that feel as awkward as the script. The performances are all quite good though, and the cinematography is solid. While the film may not hold up with some of Siegel's other works, it is basically well crafted exploration of human nature and sexual tension.
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