The Settlers (Spanish: Los colonos) is a Chileannote revisionist western film directed by Felipe Gálvez Haberle.
In the late 19th century, three men are paid by a big land owner named José Menéndez
to slaughter the native people who live on the land that he owns, in the South of Chili and Argentina. One of them is a mestizo named Segundo, who is quite unexpressive but doesn't seem to approve of what they are doing. They are led by Alexander MacLennan, a former British soldier. The third guy is an American named Bill, who already has some experience in the business of murdering native people.
This film features examples of:
- Downer Ending: In the last part, Segundo lives a simple, decent life, and apparently feels quite guilty. The film ends with a weird scene: Someone from the government wants to film Segundo and his wife having a cup of tea. Segundo's wife won't move and will only stare at the camera.
- Mercy Kill: When the three main characters have slaughtered a small native tribe, Alexander and Bill rape the one remaining woman. Alexander insists that Segundo must rape her too. Segundo strangles her to death.
- Mistaken Nationality: Bill keeps calling Alexander English, even though he is Scottish. He doesn't seem to mind, but an other Scottish man eventually kills Bill and asks Alexander how he can let that go.
- Small Name, Big Ego: Alexander always wears his red jacket from the British army and insists to be called lieutenant by lower status people. He eventually meets a former British officer who says that this is a mere soldier's jacket.
- The Western: Of the Darker and Edgier kind, with stern landscapes.
- Would Hurt a Child: Alexander and Bill won't spare native children.
