Dead Men

The action is fun but the movie overall confusing.

Someone here wrote that this film attempts to combine a lot of western related historical themes into a single plot. This viewer is right. We can see frontier family blood feuds, land claim disputes, organized crime, political corruption, Native American culture and conflicts. Despite the flashbacks... or maybe because of them... I didn't find the plot confusing. However, I do think less story would have been more! Though I was looking forward to watching a long western I do think this story is way too long for one movie. It's dragging and it suffers from poor acting. I didn't even mind that the firearms didn't fit the time the story took place in. But it literally did hurt watching the very stupid and naive main character tumbling from one mishap into the next.

I didn't find it too bad but having watched Justified, 1883 and the somewhat fictionalised American Primeval this didn't:t stand a chance really. So.manybof them look.alike with their hats and unshaven faces. I am seriously having trouble with Vance. He looks like the ex Cavalry friend of the brother:s father who got shot and I thought was dead but if it's him alive he now seems in cahoots with Coles. As an ex Army Officer I expect him to be superlative in the art of battle but I just cannot for the life of me figure out the guy with the one eye, exactly. I don't intend giving out spoilers here.

The only thing entertaining was the location and the horses and somewhat the Apache wardrobe. The firearms were no where near the period you have this taking place in 1868-1869 the colt peacemaker didn't come out until 1873 as well as the 73 Winchester, the 86 Winchester didn't come out until 1886, the 94 Winchester didn't come out until 1894, and the composition shingles that were on the roof of Roberts place didn't come in to production until 1970's the storylines were all over the place I couldn't tell what as going on or what was the main objective.... revenge of the father or the goldmine claim or rescue of the Apache wife or reuniteing of the brothers, and the dialogue! Ghastly

This film isn't shot horribly but the execution of the story is a bit manic. The ending is complete authored confusion and was like...huh? But I don't think It was a total loss as a film. With a bit more planning and funding it could have been a lot better. There was potential there if you look past the low budget aspects of it. I kinda liked the bad guy in it.