The Dead Don't Hurt (2023) ***1/2

A slow-moving romantic western, The Dead Don't Hurt (2023) is Viggo Mortensen's sophomore film as director. Handsomely shot by Marcel Zyskind (2010's The Killer Inside Me (review)) and elegiacally (and beautifully) scored by Mortensen (who also wrote the screenplay and stars), the film features fantastic performances by Vicky Krieps and Viggo, and satisfyingly reunites three Deadwood (2004–2006) alumni. The bursts of violence sprinkled throughout the picture hit that much harder due to the languid pace of this tender drama. Despite a non-linear presentation and at times female-centric viewpoint, TDDD doesn't set out to reinvent, but it's quite pleasing for fans of the genre.

It's rare that I rewatch a film within the same year, but I enjoyed this one enough to buy it when it was released on Blu-ray earlier this month. I really love the cinematography and landscapes. I really love the tone and the chemistry that Krieps and Mortensen have. I think time will be kind to this film. 

Recommended for fans of The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (2007), The Proposition (2005) (review), and Killers Of The Flower Moon (2023) (review).