Sam Peckinpah (1925-1984) was an influential and controversial American director, renowned for his raw style and his brutal yet stylized approach to cinematic violence, often emphasized by slow motion and dynamic editing.

His films explore recurrent themes such as masculinity in crisis, loyalty, betrayal, and the end of an era, particularly that of the American West, redefining the Western genre with a bleak realism.

Among his most significant works is the masterpiece *The Wild Bunch* (1969), which revolutionized the portrayal of violence and anti-heroes. Other key films include the controversial *Straw Dogs* (1971), the twilight Western *Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid* (1973), and the nihilistic *Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia* (1974). His unmistakable style earned him the nickname "Bloody Sam," leaving an indelible mark on cinematic history.