Viggo Mortensen Interview I THE DEAD DON’T HURT Starring Vicky Krieps & Viggo Mortensen

U.S. Release Date: The Dead Don’t Hurt will open exclusively in theaters nationwide on May 31, 2024 Rating: R

Written and Directed by Viggo Mortensen The Dead Don’t Hurt Starring Vicky Krieps and Viggo Mortensen

I had the opportunity to interview the incredibly talented actor, musician, and filmmaker Viggo Mortensen about his latest film, ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt‘ which he not only wrote and directed but also starred in, produced, wrote the screenplay and even the original score.

Viggo Mortensen’s upcoming Western ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’ is a compelling story of romance and revenge. The film offers a nice spin on the genre with a feisty reluctant woman (Krieps) at the forefront offering moments of hope and resilience. Mortensen’s and Krieps’ chemistry is electric.

Written and directed by Mortensen, The Dead Don’t Hurt is a powerful and profoundly personal cinematic Western that artfully blends the action, grit, and thrills of the American West with a captivating story of two pioneers embarking on a life journey fraught with obstacles.

Catch us discuss his inspirations, his screenwriting and filmmaking process and creating a story with a female-centric protagonist in a male-dominated genre. He also details the balance of working both behind and in front of the camera while guiding fellow actors.

Shout! Studios announced that Viggo Mortensen’s new Western feature The Dead Don’t Hurt will open exclusively in theaters nationwide on May 31, 2024.

In addition to a nuanced depiction of the conflict between revenge and forgiveness, the film offers a unique female-forward perspective, which adds an extra layer of depth and complexity to the story. The Dead Don’t Hurt premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where Vicky Krieps was honored with the prestigious TIFF Tribute Performer Awards. 

Vicky Krieps (CorsagePhantom Thread) and Viggo Mortensen (The Lord of the RingsCaptain Fantastic) lead this gripping Western tale alongside an impressive cast that includes Solly McLeod (HBO’s House of the DragonOutlander), Garret Dillahunt (Red Right HandFear the Walking Dead), Colin Morgan (BelfastMerlin), Ray McKinnon (The ContinentalDeadwood), W. Earl Brown (The MandalorianThe Book of Boba Fett), newcomer Atlas Green, and Danny Huston (The AviatorChildren of Men). 

The Dead Don’t Hurt is produced by Regina Solórzano of Talipot Studio, Jeremy Thomas, p.g.a. of Recorded Picture Company, and Viggo Mortensen, p.g.a. of Perceval Pictures.

Synopsis: The Dead Don’t Hurt is a story of star-crossed lovers on the western U.S. frontier in the 1860s. Vivienne Le Coudy (Vicky Krieps) is a fiercely independent woman who embarks on a relationship with Danish immigrant Holger Olsen (Viggo Mortensen). After meeting Olsen in San Francisco, she agrees to travel with him to his home near the quiet town of Elk Flats, Nevada, where they start a life together. The outbreak of the civil war separates them when Olsen makes a fateful decision to fight for the Union. This leaves Vivienne to fend for herself in a place controlled by corrupt Mayor Rudolph Schiller (Danny Huston) and his unscrupulous business partner, powerful rancher Alfred Jeffries (Garret Dillahunt). Alfred’s violent, wayward son Weston (Solly McLeod) aggressively pursues Vivienne, who is determined to resist his unwanted advances. When Olsen returns from the war, he and Vivienne must confront and make peace with the person each has become. Both a tragic love story and a nuanced depiction of the conflict between revenge and forgiveness, The Dead Don’t Hurt is a portrait of a passionate woman determined to stand up for herself in an unforgiving world dominated by ruthless men.

Thrilling Frontier Western Opens Exclusively in Theaters Nationwide May 31, 2024

See the Trailer Here

Check out my new LETTERBOXD and my thoughts on the film:

The Dead Don’t Hurt 2023 ★★★½ 

Rewatched May 172024

https://boxd.it/6z7QMD

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