Set in the 1860s in Elk Flats, Nevada, the story follows Holger (Viggo Mortensen), who lives in a quiet, dusty home near the mountains. Although his house is quite plain, he enjoys a peaceful lifestyle and prefers to keep to himself. While venturing outside the community to gather supplies, he meets Vivienne (Vicky Krieps). Holger approaches Vivienne with true gentlemanly charm, and they engage in sweet conversation. As their newfound romance blossoms, Holger invites Vivienne to move in with him in Nevada, and she happily accepts. Once she settles in, they decide to plant trees and flowers together, working to build and expand their home. Holger’s happiness is short-lived when he learns about an opportunity to serve and fight for the Union in the emerging Civil War. He decides to enlist. Although he is offered a small fee for joining, his motivations include his experience as a captain, but more importantly, he feels it is the right thing to do. Naturally, Vivienne is both displeased and saddened by Holger’s decision. Left alone, Vivienne begins working part-time at a local pub. However, the town is entirely controlled by Mayor Rudolph (Danny Huston). Vivienne must defend herself and do whatever it takes to fight for her survival in Holger’s absence. The Dead Don’t Hurt is a period western drama film starring Viggo Mortensen as Holger. He also wrote the story and directed the film. This marks Mortensen's second feature film, following his directorial debut with Falling in 2020. The drama is heavy and gritty, with some scenes that can be genuinely uncomfortable to watch, particularly after Holger leaves to serve on the battlefield. This film is visually stunning, with realistic and believable locations, set pieces, and an overall vibe that captures the West and its time period. The performances are impressive, particularly Vicky Krieps, who skillfully portrays a wide range of emotions, from light-hearted and playful to deeply dramatic. Viggo Mortensen delivers a solid performance, though his character is quieter and expresses fewer emotions than Vivienne. This restraint likely reflects his past experiences as a battlefield captain. Danny Huston, who plays the town's selfish and cruel mayor, excels in his role. However, this character feels familiar, and Huston's performance does not introduce anything new. Overall, I found many aspects of The Dead Don’t Hurt enjoyable as a Western period drama, including the visuals, locations, and sets. The performances by both Vicky Krieps and Viggo Mortensen were compelling and well-executed. However, I must admit that I found the plot progression to be quite slow. At times, the style was confusing, and the chronological timing of several flashbacks was unclear, which I found frustrating and distracting. While the climax offers a satisfying reward, the outcomes are often predictable long before they are revealed, making the experience feel less rewarding than I had hoped. * This review has been written for Sanity. For more reviews from Walkden Entertainment, check out the link here: www.walkdenentertainment.com