The Dead Don't Hurt *****

Starring : Vicky Kreips, Viggo Mortensen, Garrett Dillahunt, Marc Dennis, Nadia Litz, John Getz, Colin Morgan, Ray McKinnon, W.Earl Brown, Solly McLeod, Shane Graham, Rafel Plana, Luke Reilly, Atlas Green and Danny Huston

Director : Viggo Mortensen

Duration Running Time : (approx) 2 Hours 9 Minutes (129 Mins)

Certification Rating Certificate : 15

Distribution : Signature Entertainment, Recorded Film Company, - RPC, Talipot Studio, Perceval Pictures, Hanway Films

Also available on Paramount Plus UK

The history of the 'DANISH WESTERN MOVIE' is quite interesting, as one of the notable films in this genre is 'THE SALVATION' - originally released back in 2014 - 'TEN YEARS EARLIER' - this was classed as a 'DANISH WESTERN' directed by Kristian Levring and also written by Anders Thomas Jensen and Levring.

Now the film in question stars Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jonathan Pryce, Eric Cantona, Mikhael Persbrandt, Douglas Henshall and also Michael-Raymond James.

Now the plot of this movie, set in the American West during the 1870's, where Jon Jensen (Mikkelsen), a European settler, has just welcomed Marie (Nanna Oland Fabricus), his wife, and also Kresten (Toke Lars Bjarke), their 10 year-old son to the country from Denmark - their original country of birthplace, when they are subsequently kidnapped and also murdered.

Jensen then takes revenge on the murderers in question, only to find - and also discover that one was Henry Delarue (Morgan), the brother of a local land baron.

Now Delarue, in question, runs the local town with a 'BRUTAL HAND'.

And so now Jensen wants vengeance on the man who killed his brother - but also that the local townspeople that in question, are also too scared of him - and also that at the same time are too afraid to stand up to him.

But also that Jon - is in fact - fighting more than just the local thugs - as he is also facing - the entire town.

However, the film in question, is set in the United States, following 'THE SECOND SCHLESWIG WAR of 1864', where both Jon and also Peter (Persbrandt), his brother, and who are both Danish war veterans emigrate from Denmark, their original birthplace, to the United States, and also make a new start as well as a fresh life.

Just for the record, 'THE SECOND SCHLESWIG WAR' - aka - 'THE DANO-PRUSSIAN WAR' or even 'THE PRUSSO-DANISH WAR',was in fact, a significant military conflict in the 19th-Century - over the 'SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN' question.

Now, 'THE WAR' in question, had 'OFFICIALLY BEGAN' on February 1, 1864, when 'PRUSSIAN' and also AUSTRIAN FORCES - had in fact -crossed - ''THE BORDER'' - into 'THE DANISH FIEF SCHLESWIG'.

Denmark had in fact 'FOUGHT' against 'THE KINGDOM OF PRUSSIA' - and also 'THE AUSTRIAN EMPIRE'.

The conflict in question, had in fact arose from a 'CONFLICT OF PROBLEMS' - and that are originally related to the relationships of the 'DUCHIES OF SCHLESWIG' and also 'HOLSTEIN' to Denmark, to each other, and also to the German Confederation.

The main issues - that were involved - had also included a disputed succession, as well as a clash of Danish, and also German nationalism, and also as well as a threat to the 'INTERNATIONAL BALANCE OF POWER'.

The war had originally started after 'THE PASSING OF THE NOVEMBER CONSTITUTION' of 1863, which also tied the Duchy of Schleswig more closely to the Danish Kingdom.

This was also viewed by the German side - as a violation - of the 'LONDON PROTOCOL'.

Now 'THE WAR' in question had 'OFFICIALLY ENDED' on October 30, 1864, with the treaty of Vienna and also Denmark's cession of the Duchies of Schleswig (except for the island of AEro which had remained Danish), Holstein and also Saxe-Lauenberg to both Prussia and also Austria.

The war in question, had significant efforts on both Denmark and also Germany.

For Denmark, it had left to a shift in Danish national sentiment and also the subsequent adoption of a policy of cultural assimilation (or even ''DANIFICATION'') towards the German-speaking population situated in North Schleswig.

However, for Germany, the war, in question, was a 'STEP TOWARDS THE UNIFICATION OF THE GERMAN STATES' under Prussian leadership.

And then there was Viggo Peter Mortensen Jr, ( born October 20, 1958), an American actor, musician, and also a filmmaker.

Mortensen had appeared in movies such as 'THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO' (1985), directed by Woody Allen and featuring Mia Farrow (his then wife) and also Jeff Daniels, but that Mortensen's 'SCENES' were in fact - 'DELETED FROM THE FINAL CUT', - and that he was also 'ONE OF THE FOUR FINALISTS' to play the title role of Tarzan (this is a fictional character, a feral child that was raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; - and to which that he also later experiences civilisation - only to reject it - and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer) in the adventure film epic 'GREYSTOKE : THE LEGEND OF TARZAN - LORD OF THE APES' (1984), directed by Hugh Hudson, although the role in question, eventually went to Christopher Lambert - the film also featured Sir Ralph Richardson, (his final role), along with Sir Ian Holm, James Fox, Cheryl Campbell, Ian Charleson, and also Andie McDowell (star of 'FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL with Hugh Grant) as Jane Porter - although her voice was dubbed by Glenn Close.

Also in 1985, Mortensen's 'FIRST ONSCREEN PERFORMANCE' was as Moses Hochleitner, an Amish man in 'WITNESS' (1985), directed by Peter Weir, and featured Harrison Ford and also Kelly McGillis, with a supporting cast including Josef Somner, Lucas Haas, Alexander Godunov, Patti LuPone and also Danny Glover.

Mortensen was cast in 'WITNESS' because Peter Weir 'THE DIRECTOR' thought that he had 'THE RIGHT FACE' for an Amish man, but that he had also been simultaneously cast for another role as a soldier in 'SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK' production of 'HENRY V' - but had decided to choose acting in the film is that because he wanted to try something new, - and that he also 'CREDITED THAT DECISION' - and also the very positive experience on the film in question as 'THE START OF HIS FILM CAREER'.

Mortensen also appeared in movies such as 'THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY', 'YOUNG GUNS II', 'PRISON', 'BOILING POINT', 'THE INDIAN RUNNER', 'THE YOUNG AMERICANS', 'G.I.JANE', 'CRIMSON TIDE', 'THE PASSION OF DARKLY NOON', 'CARLITO'S WAY', 'DAYLIGHT', 'A PERFECT MURDER', 'HIDALGO', plus 'A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE', 'EASTERN PROMISES', 'CRIMES OF THE FUTURE', 'GREEN BOOK' - and also the 1988 version of the 1960 original of 'PSYCHO' directed by Gus Van Sant among others.

However between 2001-2003, Mortensen had 'CEMENTED HIS CROWNING GLORY STATUS' as a leading actor when Sir Peter Jackson has 'CASTED HIM' as Aragon in 'THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY' consisting of 'THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING', 'THE TWO TOWERS' and also 'THE RETURN OF THE KING'.

Now Mortensen, in question, had originally appeared in 'THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY' as a 'LAST MINUTE REPLACEMENT' for Stuart Townsend, an Irish actor, - and would also have not have taken the part of Aragon - had it not had been for his son's enthusiasm for the novel by J.R.R.Tolkein - and also that he had received 'CRITICAL ACCLAIM' for his portrayal of Aragon - and was also 'RANKED AS NUMBER 15' on a 2015 survey of 'THE 100 GREATEST MOVIE CHARACTERS' conducted by 'EMPIRE' - a film magazine.

However, with part of his earnings from 'THE LORD OF THE RINGS' - Mortensen had originally founded 'PERCEVAL PRESS' - this is a publishing house - that's originally named after the knight from the legend of 'KING ARTHUR' - and that this is so to help the many other artists by publishing works - that might not find the home in a more traditional publishing venues - and also that it is the home of Mortensen's 'MANY PERSONAL ARTISTIC PROJECTS' - in the areas of the following - such as - 'FINE ARTS', 'PHOTOGRAPHY', 'POETRY', 'SONG' and also 'LITERATURE'.

But then in 2020, Mortensen had released 'FALLING' - this was 'HIS DIRECTORIAL DEBUT' as a 'FILM DIRECTOR', - and in which - that he also - 'WROTE', 'PRODUCED', 'COMPOSED THE SCORE FOR', and also 'STARRED' alongside Lance Henriksen.

Mortensen had also in fact - 'BASED THE TRUE STORY' - 'ON HIS OWN FAMILY HISTORY' - which also included his parents - his mother was American and also that his father was Danish - They originally met in Norway - and that the film in question - is in fact - 'DEDICATED TO CHARLES AND WALTER MORTENSEN - Viggo's brothers.

And now in 2024, 'THE DEAD DON'T HURT', Mortensen's 'SECOND MOVIE' as a film director, in which he also wrote - and has even 'scored the music' - (the man has many talents - for he's an 'ABSOLUTE LEGEND' - and has also gone - 'THE EXTRA MILE') has just been released in movie theatres - and also just in time for the European Football Championships which arrives every 'FOUR YEARS' (the previous one was in 2021 - three years ago - and was also one year late when it was scrapped in 2020 - due to COVID-19 - aka 'THE PANDEMIC') and also takes place in Germany - and that also this has been described as 'A GROWN-UP WESTERN MOVIE' -that also challenges the macho stereotype of leading men - and which that it also takes a unique approach to the genre of 'THE WESTERN MOVIE' - and also known to many as 'A DANISH WESTERN' that's also ''PARTLY SUBTITLED'' -but that it also as - ''THE FILM FAN'' - into the shoes of a frontier woman, by emphasising 'the many hardships' that women had endured.

But also that it's not unusual for a Western to open with a strange figure on horseback, and also that strange figure on horseback - doesn't even wear - a stetson - but rather - a metal visored helmet, and that it is also cladded in a plate-mail armour, for this is a surprising as well as also a striking image: consisting of a chivalric knight of medieval legend, by simply trotting through a medieval forest.

For this is simply classed as a ''FICTIONAL FILM'' - and also that the film in question - is in fact - ''NOT BASED ON A TRUE STORY'' - for this movie weaves as - 'A UNIQUE NARRATIVE' - that's originally set during the US Civil War - and that by simply focusing this on a 'CHARACTER-SET DRAMA' - and also rather than a typical - ''ACTION WESTERN MOVIE'' - and also that while the film doesn't draw from ''HISTORICAL EVENTS'' - that it also offers a fresh perspective for the viewers.

Now the setting for the movie is set in San Francisco in the 1860's, and also that in a frontier town that's run by corrupt forces, Vivienne Le Coudy (Krieps), a fiercely French-Canadian independent woman, who is aggressively courted by an art collector.

Anyway, to escape his smouldering attention it is then that she meets and also enters into a relationship with Holger Olsen, (Mortensen), a Danish immigrant carpenter - and also to which that these two people soon become ''STAR CROSSED'' lovers.

After meeting Olsen in San Francisco, Vivienne agrees to travel with him to his home - a remote cabin situated in Northern Nevada - but then her independent streak then leads her to refuse marriage to Olsen, and then that she takes a job as a barmaid, originally situated in the town of Elk Flats, which is dominated by Alfred Jeffries (Dillahunt), a wealthy landowner, Weston (McLeod), his alcoholic son, and also Rudolph Schiller (Huston), a corrupt mayor in charge of the town.

But then the Civil War arrives, and that Olsen, in question, enlists to fight in the Union against slavery -of all things - and it is that at this point in the movie - that Weston tries to seduce Vivienne - and also violently rapes her.

That's also a linear account of the film's narrative, but that Mortensen in question, does not present things in a linear way, and that also perhaps maybe to avoid it as seeming it as also too derivative.

After all, it is full of 'WESTERN TROVES' : - such as 'the steely laconic hero', 'the spirited wife', 'the black-clad cold-blooded killer', and also 'the mission for revenge' - but also that for the likes of ''ICONIC FILM DIRECTORS'' - whose unique passion for - ''DIRECTING MANY WESTERNS'' - such as John Ford, Howard Hawks, Sergio Leone, and also Sam Peckinpah would have been at home with all that, less so with all the flits back and also forth in time, but also that 'THE DEAD DON'T HURT' which also takes Mr Mortensen back to his cinematic roots as an actor/film director.

For this is a movie that injects many monumental moments into almost 'TWO HOURS AND TEN MINUTES' -its actually 129 Minutes - but who gives a damn - simply just enjoy the movie experience of seeing this - exclusively in a movie theater - and where it deserves to be seen -on the big screen.- while you can -because it is one of those films that are given as a very short run - in movie theaters worldwide.

The elements of this movie, such as the production design, the cutting-edge sharp editing, and even the costumes - are in fact - ''QUITE IMMACULATE' throughout - but also 'THE ICONIC LANDSCAPES' -that are in fact -'BEAUTIFULLY SHOT' -in a ''WIDESCREEN FORMAT'' and also that's presented on a ''70MM BIG CINEMA SCREEN'' - that's situated in a movie theater -courtesy by cinematographer Marcel Zyskind -which are in fact - a 'FIRST CLASS MASTERPIECE' in cinema history, and also that this genre of a 'WESTERN'- features many shades of movie classics such as ''HANG-EM-HIGH'' (1968) where there's a hanging that taken place - and all you see are the dying embers of a hanged-man who's about to meet his maker - and also 'THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES' (1976), - and where there's also the burial of a loved-one the bodies of which are being dug deep like a trench - and then the bodies are then placed under the ground - while the burial is taking place - and also with the grave-diggers doing their solemn duty.

But there are also shades of 'THE PROPOSITION' (2005),- a 'WESTERN' set in Australia, directed by John Hillcoat and also featuring Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone and also Emily Watson - the film is set in the Australian outback during the late 1800's, and also revolves around the brutal conflict between the 'LAWMEN' and also the 'OUTLAW' - this follows Charlie Burns (Pearce), - an outlaw who is given a grim ultimatum by Captain Stanley (Winstone): to either find and also kill Arthur (Danny Huston - again) his older brother -and also a notorious criminal, or watch Mikey (Richard Wilson - 'I DON'T BELIEVE IT'! and no it 'ISN'T THAT ONE' who stars as Victor Meldrew in 'ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE' ) hang for his crimes.

And then there's also 'THE BALLAD OF CABLE HOGUE' (1970), directed by Peckinpah, - and is also classed as an AMERICAN COMEDY-WESTERN - that's filmed in 'TECHNICOLOR' and featuring Jason Robards Jr, Stella Stevens and also David Warner (a Manchester-born actor), the film is set in the Arizona desert during a period when the frontier was in fact closing, the film follows 'THREE YEARS' in the life of Cable Hogue (Robards Jr), a failed prospector. Cable is double-crossed and is also left dead by his partners - notably Taggart (L.Q.Jones) and also Bowen (Strother Martin), his partners.

But, however, he 'MIRACULOUSLY DISCOVERS WATER IN THE DESERT', and also decides to build a business around it.

His well soon becomes 'the only source of water' between the 'TWO TOWNS' on a 'STAGECOACH' route - that's the carriage and not the bus company - (other bus companies are also available) - the film also blends the many elements involving comedy, drama, and also the romance -making it as an unconventional film for the genre involving the 'WESTERN' in question - and that the film in question also focuses Cable's journey - from desperation to unexpected success, which in turn, are all centred around the ''life-giving'' water that he discovers.

But the connection between 'THE PROPOSITION' and also 'THE BALLAD OF CABLE HOGUE' - is simply this - that both of these explore the survival, the resourcefulness, and also the harsh realities that involve in unforgiving environments.

However, while 'THE PROPOSITION' is more intense and also morally complex, 'THE BALLAD OF CABLE HOGUE' on the other hand, takes 'a lighter approach' by emphasising the humour - and all the human connections.

However both protagonists in question face the adversity - and also must navigate their circumstances - this is in order to carve out a place for themselves - in many challenging landscapes.

So simply 'SADDLE-UP' and go along to your movie theater - located at your establishments - and also 'SEE THIS MASTERPIECE OF AN OLD-FASHIONED WESTERN' - that's complete with 'SIX-SHOOTERS', 'WIDE-BRIMMED HATS' and also 'SWINGING SALOON DOORS' - with a 'CLEVER TWIST' - for this is a 'MONUMENTAL EPIC FROM MR MORTENSEN' -

'A CINEMATIC GENIUS'

This is also 'ONE OF MY TOP THREE FILMS OF 2024'.

DON'T MISS IT !

David M.G.Mitchell