The Dead Don't Hurt

⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2 (out of 5)

In the early 1860s, two immigrants, French-Canadian woman Vivienne (Vicky Krieps) and Danish man Holger (Viggo Mortensen), meet and agree to settle down together in the quiet town of Elk Flats, Nevada, on the stark Western frontier. The fiercely independent Vivienne, a beacon of resilience, refuses to be married, but she and Holger build a life together, finding joy and beauty even amid the harsh conditions. When Holger decides to fight in the Civil War, however, Vivienne's strength is truly tested as she is left to fend for herself in the town controlled by the corrupt Mayor Schiller (Danny Huston), his business partner Jeffries (Garret Dillahunt) and Jeffries unhinged son Weston (Solly McLeod).

Viggo Mortensen wrote, directed, produced, composed and stars in this restrained Western that focusses on a Danish soldier and French woman whose subtle love story on the frontier is punctured by local corruption and cruelty. It’s a simple moving portrait of a strong woman making her way in a world of ruthless men. However, despite stunning visuals and stoic performances, the film struggles with structural issues and uneven pacing. Vicky Krieps is the heart and soul of this film, delivering a compelling, yet subtle and empathetic performance whilst Viggo delivers restrained stoic work. The film is a character-driven story, and Vivienne is a fantastic character. Still, sadly, she gets sidelined as the film progresses to its detriment. The film's non-linear structure, whilst admirable, sadly doesn’t work for this kind of story. The end result feels messy and overlong, poorly paced at times, and the looming threat of violence is never fully felt. Overall, The Dead Don’t Hurt doesn’t do much to set itself apart from other frontier films. It feels too flat and familiar and ultimately delivers a gentle Western that’s almost too gentle to leave any lasting impression.

Reel Dialogue: Where do we find justice?

In the lawless Western frontier, justice is a rare and precious commodity. Ruthless, power hungry individuals gunsling and pervert the course of justice for their own selfish gains. But those who live by a strict moral code often find themselves in a constant battle against injustice. In The Dead Don’t Hurt, Holger Olsen becomes sheriff of the town after returning from the civil war. The corrupt sheriff underestimates Olsen’s inner moral compass, and comes to learn that he cannot be bought or manipulated. Eventually, Olsen is forced to take justice into his own hands and bring retribution to the evil that has plagued his town, highlighting the relentless struggle for justice.

In our world of injustice, we can feel the urge to intervene ourselves. But we can only solve some of the world's broken problems. We must wait for God to judge the righteous and the wicked, for He is the most just and wise arbiter.

Ecclesiastes 3:17 I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.”

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