Dead Birds

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Horrorphile - July 2009

Dead Birds

July 8th 2009 00:28

Not sure how I come across this straight-to-DVD movie because it certainly wasn’t the dreadful cover art that caught my eye. Dead Birds (2004) is the debut feature for director Alex Turner, a horror-western (not too many in that particular sub-genre, and even less that are actually any good) that sports an unusually strong cast and, for the most part, a genuinely creepy atmosphere. The movie smacks of Euro-Asian elements despite being set in Alabama, 1863.

Shot in the blink of an eye, and relying a little too heavily on CGI effects, but also sporting some decent prosthetics too. Now that I think about it, it was the Michael Shannon’s name that drew my attention to this very modestly budgeted flick. Shannon is only a supporting player, but he commands every scene he’s in. Henry Thomas (the boy from E.T., very much an adult now) is William, and it’s his ragtag posse of crooked confederate soldiers that end up holed-up in a haunted plantation mansion after robbing a bank and murdering almost everyone in it (including a little boy outside who gets hit by a stray bullet).

Looks like a boar and a dog had a kid

In front of the cornfield which separates the five men and one woman from the mansion Todd (Isaiah Washington) shoots dead a strange and hideous-looking beast, which looks like some kind of skinned boar or dog. It doesn’t seem to faze the posse, and they continue on through the maize and into the huge abandoned house. Clyde (Michael Shannon) and Joseph (Mark Boone Junior) want to split the stolen gold coins between two, not six. William’s brother Sam (Patrick Fugit) has a bullet wound and Annabelle (Nicki Aycox) treats him. A storm is brewing.

That's one scary lookin' scarecrow

Demons and racism, the dark forces of black magic, greed and distrust, all collide at the plantation house in the dead of night as William’s gang fall apart, and the ghosts of the murdered linger and toil with those who’ve dared to seek shelter in that doomed place. It seems the father (Muse Watson) had done some bad things in that house, and there was hell to pay.

Dead Birds Mark Junior Boothe, Patrick Fugit, Michael Shannon

Joseph (Mark Junior Boothe), Sam (Patrick Fugit) and Clyde (MIchael Shannon) kill time

Dead Birds is well above average for such a modestly-mounted movie, and considering the content and material it plays with, many other attempts would probably fall flat on their face in the dust. It’s the cast and assured direction that lifts this movie’s game. The screenplay is okay, but it’s patchy and leaves many leaves unturned, and the ending, while trying to be cleverly cyclical, only creates a sense of unsatisfied curiosity.

Father (Muse Watson) makes a bloody sacrifice

William (Henry Thomas) and Annabelle (Nicki Aycox) are confronted

None of the characters are that likeable, so trying to feel any sympathy for the plight of these cold-blooded killers is tough going, especially after we’ve witnessed them right at the start of the movie blowing people’s heads off and killing kids. In one of the deleted scenes they add an elderly banker to the list of the murdered. The movie seems to work like a mutant slasher flick, except there’s no Final Girl. There’s no Final Guy either; yup, they’as all been taken out, chewed up, spat out; dead as the mangy crows lying amidst the rotten ears o’ corn. Oops, sorry ‘bout that spoiler there folks. But hey, you knew it was a-coming.

The horses are butchered by demons:

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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30 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Natalina

July 8th 2009 00:46

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

I have seen this movie so many times on the shelf at the DVD store, and always passed it by. I never even picked it up to see what it was about. But it actually sounds interesting. Guess you can't judge a movie by its cover.

Comment by Bryn

July 8th 2009 01:04

Horrorphile

Natalina, precisely. I wouldn't have given this movie the time of day based on its title and cover art. But check it out. Not amazing, but far from dreadful. Michael Shannon is always good value, and there's some arresting images.

Comment by Damo

July 8th 2009 04:31

This film sound terrible.

I have also seen the DVD for rent and never once became tempted to bring it home.

Comment by James Rickard

July 8th 2009 05:21

unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Check this out...

Doesn't sound too bad. I've seen this on the shelves and passed it right by. I didn't even know it was a Western!

Comment by Bryn

July 8th 2009 06:53

Horrorphile

Damo, it ain't that bad ... really.

James, it got dealt a bad distribution deal.

Comment by http://www.orble.com/adrian-2/

July 8th 2009 09:14

Jesus Would Not Approve

this blog is downright satanic

Comment by Bryn

July 8th 2009 11:21

Horrorphile

adrian, i'm glad you approve

you're right jesus would probably not approve ... too Dark in here.

Comment by Anonymous

July 8th 2009 12:34

I've seen it because I'm a fan of Patrick Fugit's (Almost Famous) and I can tell you that Bryn is right.... it truly is a pretty decent horror flick. Not great, but worth a look-see.

Kemi~

Comment by Someone

July 8th 2009 13:06

Evil Pleasures
Random Musings on Life, Love and Everything
Let's Get Down To Business

I used to own this movie on DVD and raved about it to anyone who would listen... then I got a folder full of movies stolen out of my college room, including this one, and had since forgotten about it. I'll have to go find a copy now

Comment by Someone

July 8th 2009 13:25

Evil Pleasures
Random Musings on Life, Love and Everything
Let's Get Down To Business

(not too many in that particular sub-genre, and even less that are actually any good)

Can you name any that are good, other than this one? I am trying to think of some, and failing miserably. From memory The Quick and the Undead was crap, and Dead Noon is one of the very rare movies that I couldn't sit through (and I've sat through some shockers!). I've heard Ravenous is o.k. but haven't seen it...

Hopefully Tarantino's Death Keeps Coming should be a good addition to the genre.

Comment by Christopher Waldeck

July 8th 2009 21:26

Dunk Films

The only thing more horrifying about this movie was its sequel Red Sands that failed to live up to this movie and any horror film in general.

Comment by Someone

July 8th 2009 23:35

Evil Pleasures
Random Musings on Life, Love and Everything
Let's Get Down To Business

Red Sands cops a lot of flak for it's slow pacing. While it doesn't live up to Dead Birds, there are much worse movies out there.

And just because they have the same director doesn't make it a sequel

Comment by Bryn

July 9th 2009 01:11

Horrorphile

Kemi ~ Lilith, haven't seen you here for while! How was the horror con??

Y'know, the more I think about it, there aren't any horror westerns worth mentioning ... sorry about that. Westworld is a curio with a sci-fi lean, Near Dark has western elements ... as does Dust Devil ... that's about it.

What has Tarantino got to do with Death Keeps Coming? He hasn't written or directed it, so if he's producing, I'll take that with a serious grain of salt.

Comment by Natalina

July 9th 2009 06:09

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

Have you ever seen the movie Blueberry starring Vincent Cassel, Juliette Lewis, Michael Madsen, and Eddie Izzard? It is kind of a surreal western/ sci-fi with some horror elements. Based on a Moebius comic strip (loosely) and was actually an ok flick. I think it is also known by the less appealing title Renegade. Maybe not exactly a horror western, but worth mentioning.

Comment by Bryn

July 9th 2009 07:21

Horrorphile

Oooo, I'll have to check it out, I haven't heard of it. I LOVE Moebius. His production design elements were the only thing I liked about The Fifth Element, a pet hate movie of mine.

Comment by The Rusty Can

July 9th 2009 08:17

Everything

This doesn't sound half bad. I'm a bit curious about the ET kid too.

I second what Natalina said about Blueberry - pretty cool flick.

What's wrong with The Fifth Element? I think it's hilarious.

Comment by Natalina

July 9th 2009 08:53

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

High five, Rusty!

The best thing for me about The 5th Element was the blue Diva singing. I love that scene. The whole movie was eye candy, but mostly forgettable. Too bad. I have a love hate relationship with Luc Besson.

Comment by Bryn

July 9th 2009 10:22

Horrorphile

No one high fives over Fifth Element on my blog! I hate that piece of puerile self-indulgent crap! And Chris Rock sucks! Ugh! It works even less as a comedy for me. I like the cityscape, that's it. But I'm the only person I know who loathes it so. Now I'm getting riled up again over it ... Luc Besson, sheeeesh!

Comment by Natalina

July 9th 2009 13:23

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

Bryyyyn! I was high fiving Rusty about Blueberry, silly! **cowering in the corner**

I said I thought The Fifth Element was forgettable!

I would be too embarrassed to tell you my favorite Luc Besson movie. So I won't. Hint: Not a Transporter movie

Comment by Bryn

July 10th 2009 01:41

Horrorphile

Natalina, didn't mean to bite!

Apologies for misinterpreting your high five! It was all in good humour though ... You'd be surprised how many people love The Fifth Element. Like you, I have a love/hate relationship with Besson's movie stylistics. I really like Subway, which was the first movie I saw. Then I saw and really liked The Blue Blue (haven't bought it yet, there are two versions). Then Nikita (I own that and Subway on a dual DVD pack), Leon aka The Professional frustrated me. I love Gary Oldman in it, and I like the visual style, but Natalie Portman's characterisation really annoyed me, and I didn't like their relationship. Then Fifth Element came along, and I thought ugh! It just grated on me from the get-go. I haven't seen Joan of Arc (it looked very silly with all the Hollywood actors) ... haven't seen anything recent. As for your favourite, hmmmm, I'm not sure. Not that Arthur kids flick??

Comment by Natalina

July 10th 2009 01:47

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

Nope...but you mentioned it in your comment

I liked Leon only because of Gary Oldman. I haven't seen Subway or The Blue Blue....

It's ok, though. I sensed you smiling through gritted teeth!

Comment by Bryn

July 10th 2009 01:50

Horrorphile

Yes, well, I can understand like Leon for that matter, Gary is brilliantly unhinged in that! Have you seen Romeo is Bleeding, which I reviewed on Cult Projections?

Comment by Natalina

July 10th 2009 02:05

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

Actually, I think that's one of your reviews I haven't read, shame on me. I have seen it though, and loved it.

Ok, I confess... one of my favorite movies of all time is The Messenger. And I realize I'm a lone voice in the wilderness for that fact, but I love it, and have seen it a bazillion times. I just love how it turns the story of Joan of Arc on it's head, and presents the story with the implication that Joan was schizophrenic, and the voice of God was all in her own head, and that she was actually arrogant and proud. It's a different take on the story.

Don't watch it... It will make you think less of me. lol

Comment by Bryn

July 10th 2009 02:40

Horrorphile

I couldn't bear the idea of watching this so very French legend being told in American accents.

Comment by Natalina

July 10th 2009 04:16

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

It is distracting. The worst is that there are some French accents, some American, some English....that part of it is a mess. In fact, it's one of the few films where Malkovich actually bugged me.

That said, it is shot beautifully, there are some incredible and breathtaking scenes, some unforgettable dialogue, and a new take on an old story... all in all, I loved it.

Comment by The Rusty Can

July 11th 2009 05:29

Everything

*High fives Natalina in the corner* (for Blueberry, ofcourse

.)

I haven't seen a lot of the Luc Besson films you guys have mentioned. Transporter was... meh... and I always remember how impressive the young Natalie Portman was in the restroom scene. I have to watch it again for Gary Oldman now.

The Fifth Element is great because it's visually spectacular and really easy to watch. Speaking of the blue diva - her makeup was fabulous and her singing pretty impressive considering how Besson (her then boyfriend) had asked her to take up the role after the original actor pulled out. I'll stop going on about this movie now...

Comment by Bryn

July 11th 2009 07:27

Horrorphile

Yes Rusty, stop now. Or I'll have to kill you in gruesome fashion.

Comment by Christopher Waldeck

July 11th 2009 18:00

Dunk Films

Yes an incredibly smart idea to miss Red Sands.

Comment by JohnDoe

July 17th 2009 23:34

Film & TV on DVD

I enjoyed Dead Birds too..from the "Wild Bunch" opening to the twilight Zone finale...some intense performances and fun ambiguity.....fir some reason it made me yearn for the gothic drama of Don Siegel's The Beguiled. (A truly great movie)

Comment by Bryn

July 18th 2009 01:04

Horrorphile

JD, thought you'd like this one.

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