The Dead Don’t Hurt, 2024.
Written and Directed by Viggo Mortensen.
Starring Vicky Krieps, Viggo Mortensen, Solly McLeod, Garret Dillahunt, Danny Huston, Colin Morgan, Ray McKinnon, Luke Reilly, Atlas Green, W. Earl Brown, Shane Graham, Alex Breaux, Michael Weaver, Angela Lentz, Nadia Litz, Marc Dennis, John Getz, Henry Mortensen, Rodrigo Santacruz, Jason Clarke, and Rafel Plana.
SYNOPSIS:
Two pioneers fight for their lives and their love on the American frontier during the Civil War.
Refreshing stories in the Western genre (any genre, really, but particularly that one) are hard to come by, and writer/director/co-star/composer Viggo Mortensen’s The Dead Don’t Hurt is certainly nothing original.
It does, however, have the benefit of the filmmaker treating the familiar story with humanity and solid characterization, with the movie also benefiting from a “female-centric” (note the choice phrasing, as one probably couldn’t confidently call this a feminist narrative) perspective that delicately and sensitively follows and studies an idyllic life turned rough (complete with the usual atrocities to women committed by lawless men during the time) when Vicky Krieps’ Vivienne Le Coudy finds herself alone on the homestead after her immigrant partner Holger Olsen (Viggo Mortensen) feels compelled to take up arms against the Confederacy fiercely knowing that slavery is wrong.
This tale of love is set against the backdrop of a corrupt town, which also receives much focus so that even the villains come across as authentic and believably motivated. As for the romance itself, aspects are told nonlinearly, frequently jumping around to the beginning and the end while the meat of the story unfolds. It’s an experimental choice that causes mild confusion more than anything since the shifts are so subtle without much indication. That’s not to say people will get lost watching the film, but there might be a moment or two of questioning, “Hold down a second, are these different people, or is this the flashback/flash-forward?”
As a director, Viggo Mortensen makes quite a few choices that aren’t necessarily effective, leaving one wondering if this would work better in a more traditional, straightforward sense. Nearly every scene lasts minutes, often to the point that nothing of interest or purpose is no longer happening. However, this is somewhat forgivable since the production design breathes some life into the town and saloon. Typically, Westerns lately come in the form of cheap VOD entities looking like the budget was the equivalent of a dollar-store spending spree, so it’s nice to get lost in the environment of one that genuinely looks the part and has attention to detail.
Again, the care put into The Dead Don’t Hurt is what works enough in its favor to reach recommendable status. The film makes up for glacial- pacing with thoughtful characterization, touching on Vivienne’s dreams, Holger’s past, their temporary perfect life together growing crops, and the dramatic changes once he finally returns home. Considering the film repeatedly jumps around, it’s not a spoiler to say that he has a son in the future. There are also questions to be answered regarding Vivienne’s death that opens the story. Likewise, there is more to learn about Solly McLeod’s Weston Jeffries, a ruthless gunslinger hiding out after going on a killing spree, fully aware that the corrupt officials running the town will comfortably execute someone else to alleviate attention.
By the time The Dead Don’t Hurt has morphed into a more conventional revenge tale, straying away from that “female-centric” approach, the violence is meaningful with a tense final confrontation. For the previous two-thirds, it’s a Western with a perspective twist that is primarily engaging due to the craftsmanship and soulful performances with loving chemistry at the center. Yes, some of the creative choices hurt, but Viggo Mortensen has a passion for the genre, and an understanding of how to tap into the strengths of the tropes rather than lazily utilize them. Starring in the film alongside the always-reliable Vicky Krieps definitely doesn’t hurt.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
