‘Brilliant’ Western movie you’ve probably never heard of is ‘perfect’ | Films | Entertainment

A little-known western film is being hailed by fans and critics alike, but it is only streaming on one platform.

The Dead Don’t Hurt is a 2023 western film written, directed, and produced by Viggo Mortensen, and starring Mortensen, Vicky Krieps, Solly McLeod, Garret Dillahunt, Colin Morgan, Ray McKinnon, Luke Reilly, Atlas Green, and Danny Huston. Mortensen also composed the score for the film. 

The film’s synopsis reads: “The Dead Don’t Hurt is a story of star-crossed lovers on the western U.S. frontier in the 1860s. Vivienne Le Coudy (Krieps) is a fiercely independent woman who embarks on a relationship with Danish immigrant Holger Olsen (Mortensen). After meeting Olsen in San Francisco, she agrees to travel with him to his home near the quiet town of Elk Flats, Nevada, where they start a life together. The outbreak of the Civil War separates them when Olsen makes a fateful decision to fight for the Union. This leaves Vivienne to fend for herself in a place controlled by corrupt Mayor Rudolph Schiller (Huston) and his unscrupulous business partner, powerful rancher Alfred Jeffries (Dillahunt).

“Alfred’s violent, wayward son Weston (Solly McLeod) aggressively pursues Vivienne, who is determined to resist his unwanted advances. When Olsen returns from the war, he and Vivienne must confront and make peace with the person each has become. Both a tragic love story and a nuanced depiction of the conflict between revenge and forgiveness, The Dead Don’t Hurt is a portrait of a passionate woman determined to stand up for herself in an unforgiving world dominated by ruthless men.”

The western movie has an impressive 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics’ consensus stating: “A solid step forward for Viggo Mortensen as a director, The Dead Don’t Hurt offers viewers a comfortably old-fashioned Western with a satisfying, character-driven story.”

One viewer expressed: “At first I wasn’t sure, but then it got better & better & the ending is perfect!!!!”

A reviewer described the film as “brilliant”, while another said it was “better than most westerns”.

“This was an atypical western. The pace allowed for character development and veered away from standard heroics. The characters became people, imperfect in their decisions. I had not seen Vicky Krieps in a film before, but her performance in The Dead Don’t Hurt is unforgettable….and Oscar worthy,” added a fourth.

The Dead Don’t Hurt is available to stream on Paramount+.