Since its inception, the Western genre has largely revolved around its male characters. These films often followed the lives of outlaws, bounty hunters, and saviors seeking some form of justice. They relied on an immaculate display of gunfights and breathtaking landscapes while leaving its female characters to be either catalysts or helpless bystanders. “The Dead Don’t Hurt” (2023) is one of the recent genre exercises that moves past its male-dominated history. It offers a tender look into the life of a woman as she navigates her way around the world with men of different kinds. Viggo Mortensen, who has written & directed the film, co-stars as the lead with Vicky Krieps.
Spoilers Ahead
The Dead Don’t Hurt (2023) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
“The Dead Don’t Hurt” is a Western drama film written, directed, and produced by Viggo Mortensen. Starring him and Vicky Krieps in the central roles, it follows an immigrant couple fighting for their lives in the United States during the Civil War.
What happens in ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’?
Set in 1860s San Francisco, “The Dead Don’t Hurt” features a non-linear narrative style. It revolves around Franco-Canadian Vivienne Le Coudy (Vicky Krieps) and her Danish immigrant husband, Holger Olsen (Viggo Mortensen). As a child, Vivienne had to face the reality of her father’s untimely death after he crossed the English soldiers. Her mother taught her about Joan of Arc, who fought and died like a saint. Years later, Lewis Cartwright (Colin Morgan), an art collector, courts Vivienne even if her heart is not into it. He treats her like his property and doesn’t provide her any respite.
One day, Vivienne gets tired of Lewi’s behavior and stands up for herself. Then, she notices Holger Olsen (Viggo Mortensen) and strikes up a conversation with him. Soon after, they end up in a bed together. She takes him to an art exhibit and introduces him as her friend to make Lewis jealous. Eventually, Vivienne & Holger get into a relationship and start a life together. He brings her to his house, which looks like a pathetic bachelor’s pad devoid of emotions. She turns it into a home – clean, warm, and hospitable. He reveals how the war distanced him from his former partner.
Vivienne & Holger’s Home
Vivienne and Holger begin their life being deeply in love with each other. Holger reveals he is building a barn for Alfred Jeffries (Garret Dillahunt), who offers him a place to live. Later, they enter a nearby bar, also owned by the Jeffries family. There, she notices Alfred’s arrogant, egocentric son, Weston (Solly McLeod). Later, she decides to get a job there as a barmaid. Although the manager, Alan Kendall (W Earl Brown), does not need any employee, Weston allows her to start working there. Meanwhile, Holger learns that the Fifth California Infantry Regiment is looking for volunteers to fight the Civil War.
Holger considers it a service to the nation and decides to join the Union Army. Vivienne dreads the loneliness and opposes his decision. Still, Holger leaves for a righteous fight against slavery. In Holger’s absence, Weston tries to woo Vivienne. Weston offers her some aid, but she refuses his advances. Later, at the bar, she sees Weston ruthlessly beat pianist Claudio (Rafel Plana) simply for playing a song he doesn’t want to be played. The same night, he shows up at her cottage, forces his way inside, and brutally rapes her. Soon after, she gets pregnant and bears a son, Vincent (Atlas Green). She raises him by herself.
Vivienne’s Solitary Life
Holger keeps writing letters to Vivienne, but she rarely responds. In her solitude, Claudio and his family provide her with compassionate company. A few years later, Holger returns home to find Vivienne with young Vincent and wonders whose child he is. She reveals Weston forced himself onto her. But recently, he killed a Mexican man and his tween son. So, Alfred made him leave the town. Holger takes a bit to process his anger and aggression about these events. Eventually, he returns home and resumes a life with his family. Then, he takes up a new job and learns about the other changes in the town.
Eventually, Weston returns to the town and asks Alfred and Mayor Rudolph Schiller (Danny Huston) for his share of the property. They oppose his decision to return, considering the recent murders he committed. Around this time, Vivienne suffers a tragic death from a venereal disease. During her last days, Holger stays by her side. Finally, after Holger buries her body, the mayor meets him to inform him about the deaths of six people, including Claudio and Alan. Although Weston committed them out of arrogance, the mayor accuses Ed Wilkins (Alex Breaux) of the crime since he cannot defend himself.
The Dead Don’t Hurt (2023) Movie Ending Explained:
Did Holger deliver justice and embrace the fresh possibilities?
After Vivienne’s untimely death, Weston Jeffries goes on a killing rampage, murdering six people, including bar manager Alan and pianist Claudio. Alfred and the Mayor accuse innocent Ed of these crimes to protect their Weston. Soon after, Holger starts looking for Weston in the wilderness and eventually finds him. During a stand-off, Weston forces Holger to throw away all his weapons. Holger removes all his guns and throws his knife right into Weston’s chest. Even then, Weston tries to kill Holger and Vincent.
Nonetheless, Holger retrieves his guns, injures Weston, and leaves him to die. After Weston’s death, Holger travels away with Vincent, teaching him lessons of the world to his best potential. They keep riding until they reach the Ocean. Vincent asks whether it is the end of the world. Holger says it is ‘of this world.’ He indicates their future travels beyond the land, exploring a new life together. Vivienne and Holger both saw hope in life in a land that wasn’t theirs. So, Holger emotionally accepts a future in a new world with Vincent.
The Dead Don’t Hurt (2023) Movie Review:
Westerns are often male-dominated, defined by their showcase of machismo. Set in lawless lands, their characters are largely outliers trying to prove their worth as ruthless killers or righteous saviors. These films often rely on a sense of catharsis and a return of justice. Recently, some filmmakers have tried to get past its outdated tropes. Be it “No Country for Old Men,” “There Will Be Blood,” or “The Power of the Dog,” these 21st-century westerns explored broader themes than just what appears on the surface. Mainly, they all criticized the factors that made old Westerns iconic, be it masculinity or a false sense of morality.
Viggo Mortensen’s “The Dead Don’t Hurt” does something similar with this genre. Instead of focusing on the men in the narrative, he spends most of its runtime following Vickie Krieps’ character. It patiently follows Vivienne as she figures out her life in a new land and shows an uncommon amount of strength through her unwavering dignity. Besides, her romance with Mortensen’s Holger feels pure, innocent, and breezy. It is through these tiny details that the film becomes arguably the most tender film in a Western set-up. Although it explores the themes of revenge and justice, it doesn’t lose sight of its essence of accepting new possibilities.
