The Dead Don’t Hurt
In the 1860’s, when French-Canadian Vivienne Le Coudy (Vicky Krieps, "The Phantom Thread," "Corsage") arrives in San Francisco with Lewis Cartwright (Colin Morgan, "Belfast"), her independent spirit rebels against his condescending, patriarchic views, drawing the attention of Danish cowboy/carpenter Holger Olsen (Viggo Mortensen). Their flirtation leads to an agreement to settle in the remote cabin he’s built in a canyon in Elk Flats, Nevada, but their romance will turn tragic in “The Dead Don’t Hurt.”
Laura's Review: B
Writer/director/composer/costar Viggo Mortensen’s ("Falling") sophomore filmmaking feature sets a modern romance within an old-fashioned western while showcasing the talents of his costar Vicky Krieps, who is actually the film’s central character. The film meanders a bit but never loses our interest, it’s only real flaw a sometimes confusing transition between time periods.
We open on a deathbed scene, a brass bed and embroidered curtains noticeable in the mid-century American West, before being plunged into a shooting, one man left lying in the street as the gunman rides out of town. Elk Flats’ mayor, Rudolph Schiller (Danny Huston, "30 Days of Night"), rides up with others to where Olsen is in the act of burying Vivienne, their young son Vincent (Atlas Green) sitting alongside. Schiller pays his respects, but he’s come to tell his Sheriff that Ed Wilkins (Alex Breaux) killed six men, including Olsen’s Deputy. The mayor’s account is called into question during Wilkins’ trial, Martha Gilkyson (Nadia Litz, "Crimes of the Future") insisting Weston Jeffries (Solly McLeod) was seen riding into town, but she is reluctantly silenced by Judge Blagden (Ray McKinnon, HBO's 'Deadwood'). Wilkins is hung.
Mortensen then goes back in time to illustrate what led up to these two major events. Suddenly Vivienne is alive, dining with Cartwright, whose enthusiasm over Alaska leads to reveries of her own childhood where she dreams of Joan of Arc and other tales told by her mother as her father heads north never to return. She will inspire Olsen’s ambitions, decrying the state of his cabin and the barren land surrounding it. Soon he’ll be digging a well and riding in with trees and flowers. But when Union recruiters ride into town, Olsen decides fighting with them is the right thing and despite Vivienne’s protestations, he leaves (Claudio Garcia (Rafel Plana, "Falling"), the piano player at Kendall’s Saloon where Vicky works, will be beaten for playing a Union song). What happens to her during his absence reveals the true story behind both her and six other men’s deaths. What happens after that is a hopeful resolution of good versus evil.
Multi-hyphenate Mortensen attains classic Western vibes via dazzling locations in Durango, Mexico (cinematographer Marcel Zyskind), and his own musical contribution. Additional ‘Deadwood’ veterans in the cast include Garret Dillahunt, whose Alfred Jeffries is the father of Weston and the corrupt business partner of Schiller, and W. Earl Brown, the saloon owner, Alan Kendall, who they conspire to cheat.
While not as accomplished, “The Dead Don’t Hurt” features the most charming Western romance since Costner’s “Open Range.” What can one say about a grand romantic gesture that incorporates cow dung? Krieps continues an astonishing run of complex female characters whose inner thoughts she conveys with the subtlest of facial expressions.
Robin's Review: B+
In the 1860s, in northern California, immigrants Holger Olsen (Viggo Mortensen) and Vivienne Le Cloudy (Vicky Krieps) meet and fall in love. But the Civil War takes him away and she must fend for herself in the harsh land in “The Dead Don’t Hurt.”
Viggo Mortensen is known best as a prolific and talented actor but also wears the director’s and writer’s caps for this modern telling of the old west at the time of our Civil War. Smartly, the filmmaker, though also one of the film’s prominent performers, gives Vicky Krieps full reign and the actree runs with it.
The story (sometimes confusedly) jumps back and forth in time to tell how Vivienne and Holger met, fell in love and married. She moves to his rural home and is less than thrilled with his ramshackle shack and lack of amenities. She changes that quickly, bring in plants to plant, repairs made and painting the whole thing. The house becomes a home for the couple.
But, there is trouble looming on the horizon. Word has reached the far west that the nation is embroiled in the American Civil War. Holger, a trained soldier in his native Denmark, believes it is his duty to join the conflict and help his adoptive country. Vivienne, stoically, accepts his decision.
Alone and running the place single-handed, Vivienne fares well enough. Until, that is, a man from the far town, Alfred Jeffries (Garret Delahunt), comes by and has designs on the “lonely” wife. He does, against her wishes and will, leaving her beaten, bloody and pregnant. She has a son.
Eventually, Holger returns home. The first question his wife asks is, “How was your war?” Then, she tells him about Jeffries. His immediate reaction is to get revenge but Vivienne stops. The man has left the territory, she assures him. Life goes on, with the consequences of the rape resonating for the tiny family.
Viggo Mortensen, as the director, made both good and not-so-good decisions with his sophomore feature. The good, bordering on excellent, is Vicky Krieps performance as a tough pioneer woman who bears life blows with dignity, strength and resilience.
The not so good lay, I think, in the editing, which jumps back and forth in time, sometimes within minutes. I kept getting confused, had to spend time sorting out the intent and flow, then get back to the story. This is a small nitpick considering the fine acting and good story. Krieps is memorable.
Shout! releases "The Dead Don't Hurt" in theaters on 5/31/24.
