The Magnificent Dead

I didn't have many expectations when I started watching but was pleasantly surprised by how effective the movie was. Unusual plotline got my interest and decent action fulfilled the climax. Acting was, as expected, not star quality but it didn't send me screaming for the remote either.

All in all, I was glad I watched this movie and that is saying something these days.

The Magnificent Dead takes place in the 1870's in the small Texas town of Rosewood where local rancher Jared Hamilton and his men have declared war on the town, using fear and death to prevent a new railroad line from coming through. Guided by a priest, Father Julian the desperate town leaders decide to hire a group of six gunmen to help clean up the town.

These gunmen are legendary, as they are afflicted with Leprosy and fight with reckless abandon and ruthlessness, for they have nothing to lose.

Very odd and interesting movie. Well done overall. Don't expect a lot of crazy action from frame one. This movie builds slowly but it really is interesting in its understated way. Most of the acting is acceptable to good.

Some of the movie is a bit disjointed, but it's rather original. There's a bit of a disconnect in terms of who these leprosy guys are because they seem to come back to life after being shot.

For sure, the movie loses steam in the last third, but still, I'm scoring this based on originality and actually trying to make something cool.

All things considered not bad, with unknown actors and a clearly small budget and a well known story that's tweaked in an odd direction it's really much better than anyone could expect. Normally when you have all these things going against you the most you can expect is when it's over do you feel it was a complete waste of time, this was not only not a waste of time but I enjoyed it. You will need to set your expectations aside somewhat but if you like westerns and horror movies on their own you should be reasonably satisfied.