The dead won't hurt you (2023) is a Western film that sits the audience with its clever story line and deep emotions with Viggo Mortensen who directs, writes, and main actor, the movie shows a 1860's backdrop with prevailing themes such as love, resilience and the struggle for revenge in the American wild west. In a movie, you can't just hire actors; you have to find ones that are multilayered, it's not only famous actors; it's characters that contribute to the movie as well. For instance Mortensen, famous for his multifaceted talents plays the role of Holger Olsen, a Danish immigrant. Vicky Krieps as Vivienne Le Coudy, a French Canadian who is a feisty lady and is always independent minded. The movie starts with the two main characters in San Francisco which Olsen and Vivienne happen to meet, Vivienne whose early engagement to a rich controlling man ended their relationship to then find Holger with quiet power and gentleman, they latter on move to the home of Holger where they try to make a decent life. The serene life is suddenly gone in an instant when Holger joins the Union Army who then departs to the Civil War while Vivienne is left wondering how she will manage to survive in a city where Mayor Rudolph Schiller is corrupt, and Jeffries is a merciless land baron who knows no good. It is the worst when Vivienne is beaten by Weston Jeffries, the son of a jealous psychopath, this critical event puts her into a tough spot in which is enough to break her spirit and independence for a brief moment, question is what will happen once Holger finds out of the recent events, might become a murder seeking for justice, probably taking justice by his own hands.
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22773644/ - Platform: Theaters - Release: May 31, 2024
The Making of the Film
Viggo Mortensen's Vision
One of the plausible reasons for the outstanding success of the movie can be attributed to the fact that in addition to directing and writing Vigo Mortensen also served as a producer and a composer he did almost everything for this production, been his second time directing a movie and the last time he was behind the camera and "Falling" was his first movie as a director. The Dead Don't Hurt got a bunch of talented actors, including Mortensen himself, and a skillful hardworking crew to make the movie a superb as describe by Mortesen himself, its only expected that with him controlling all this aspects, close to perfection was his main target.
Casting and Performances
Mortensen went with casting Vicky Krieps as the lead, they complemented each other so well previously although have not collaborated before this production, from the trailer their screen chemistry seem something you could not deny. Both have to bring up very complex personalities corresponding to the time of the movie, made Vicky a perfect match for getting character like Vivienne. Her performance's point is highly praised and celebrity reviewers often note her deep sung portrayal of a woman who has to face the hardships of the American frontier. The good supporting actors listed also does well, with Garrett Dillahunt, Danny Huston, and Solly McLeod being included in the lineup. With the camera work of Marcel Zyskind and production designers of Carol Spier and Jason Clarke made it possible to acquire an appropriate and consistent visual style that simultaneously reflected both the beauty of the setting and the strict historical accuracy.
Production Challenges
Principal photography on "The Dead Don't Hurt" took place in different provinces within Canada and México, namely Ontario, BC, and Durango. In fact, it is the production team who reproduced the period setting quite successfully with great focus on all the details including the costumes, props and the set design. Doing this Mortensen eliminated the issue of authenticity, which he himself composed, and drew inspiration from the traditional Western music and his own musical influences.
Among the visionary features of "The Dead Don't Hurt" is the nonlinear chronological structure, the introduction of personality switches between different time lines by Mortensen only makes the storytelling deeper and more challenging but easy to understand for the audience, the movie functions relatively well by shifting back and forth between Vivienne's past and her present, at times revealing how a childlike hope and memories from her formative years molded her to become the strong person she is today, this is the road that takes storytelling to a whole new level according to critics online, as this format can keep the audience asking and wondering for more.
Themes and Messages
Gender Dynamics and Feminism
The critical point is that the story The Dead Don't Hurt is the disclosure of how the gender issues and the position of women in a patriarchal community, arise in society. In this sense, the story becomes of Vivienne and her boss, where she tries to challenge about and bring gender equality, the heroine Vivienne is not only a strong character who doesn't bend the knee to the unjust social norms and customs imposed on her, but she also stands out due to the audiences, especially those who want to see not only strong but also independent female representation in cinema.
Love and Relationships
The turbulent relationship of Vivienne and Holger is full of ups and downs and roads that latter on split once Holger decides to enlist, but they somehow keep finding each other in the open. Unpredictable circumstances and their own personal growth are their biggest enemies, Vivienne wanting to maker her life with Holger and him wanting to always do the right thing to do even if it means going far away from home. The love story between these characters becomes a representation of the real human experience with all its suffering, heartache, and triumph as characters make difficult choices to protect those they care and love.
Violence and Revenge
The film also deals with the fundamental concept of violence cycle and the result of revenge, specifically once Holger comes home from the Civil War, his quest for retribution against those who harmed Vivienne creates this environment vengeance that the story tries to morally justify, an endless circle of violence and injustice starts to consume Holger a man how left home for saving others ironically to return to the news that his wife has been violent hurt while he was out there risking his life for the benefit of the many, freedom and justice.
Immigrant Experience
The movie showed the people why the Americans were risking their lives and battling the frontier and the new world. The endurance of Vivienne and Holger's characters from outside and often hostile space turn them into a symbol of the migrant path to a new and better life together, this will most likely connect with audiences and made them rethink immigration and cultural identity problem, having the two main character immigrants from far away and from totally different cultures trying to adapt with the locals.
The Dead Don't Hurt (2023) is a Western that brought up a tragic love story with social critique, set in a harsh Western World, I can always like a good drama movie specially develop on places and times that I never saw or live. Directed, written, and one of the main actors Viggo Mortensen, with Vicky Krieps delivering a memorable performance based on the trailer and some of the reviews I was able to find online, the film will make you dive deep into themes of love, justice, gender roles and immigrant experiences, the last probably one of the most harsh during those days, there were many disadvantages to be an outsider. Definitely with less action but similar in some ways makes me think about a very recent TV series Billy The Kid, with similar Western World backdrop and the struggles of those days, probably a movie I would sit and watch with my wife.
