The Bravados

A rancher driven by grief who believes his wife was murdered by four outlaws. He relentlessly pursues them with a strict personal code, capable of ruthless action yet capable of tenderness for his daughter and his love, Josefa. His journey reveals the moral complexity of vengeance and the cost of violence.

A ranch woman who cared for her late father’s land and who rekindles a prior romance with Douglass. She embodies loyalty and resilience, helping to ground Douglass as he confronts the consequences of his pursuit.

One of the four fugitives Douglass pursues; he is clever and dangerous, but ultimately outsmarted and killed by Douglass when confronted with the truth behind the pursuit.

A violent, predatory outlaw who rapes Emma and clashes with Douglass on multiple fronts. He is killed by Douglass in a cross-border confrontation, illustrating the film’s brutal arc.

One of the four inmates; he is dangerous and unscrupulous, and is captured by the posse and hanged upside-down from a tree, marking a climactic consequence of the pursuit.

A member of the quartet with a family of his own who conveys a sense of calm menace. He clarifies the chain of theft and hints at the misattribution of Douglass’s wife’s death.

A prospector and neighbor who is caught up in the outlaws' pursuit; his home becomes a danger point when Zachary uses it as a stage for violence. His death marks a turning point in Douglass's understanding of blame.

A young hostage whom Zachary and Lujan abduct, later left behind amid the pursuit. Her arc underscores the brutal human cost of the outlaw chase and the fragility of those caught in the crossfire.

The town priest who offers a moral reflection on the violence around him, providing Douglass with a counterpoint to vengeance and a path toward forgiveness.

The town sheriff who tries to maintain order as the imposter killer is revealed and the pursuit escalates into violence. He represents the law’s limits in a world of personal vendetta.