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The Dead Don't Hurt

The Dead Don't Hurt is a 2023 Western film written, directed, produced, and scored by Viggo Mortensen, who also stars in it.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Dead Don't Hurt is a 2023 Western film written, directed, produced, and scored by Viggo Mortensen, who also stars in it. Set in the American West during the 1860s, it centres on a Danish immigrant and a French Canadian woman whose lives are divided by the American Civil War. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023 and had a North American theatrical release in May 2024.

Premise

The film follows the relationship between Danish immigrant Holger Olsen and French Canadian Vivienne Le Coudy in the American frontier. Their lives are disrupted when the American Civil War separates them and Vivienne is left to navigate a violent local power structure.

Production

The Dead Don't Hurt is a Viggo Mortensen project in which he served as writer, director, producer, composer, and lead actor. It is his second feature film as director after Falling.

Release

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023. It later received a North American theatrical release in May 2024 and a Danish release in June 2024.

Cast

The principal cast includes Viggo Mortensen as Holger Olsen and Vicky Krieps as Vivienne Le Coudy, alongside Solly McLeod, Garret Dillahunt, Colin Morgan, Ray McKinnon, Luke Reilly, Atlas Green, and Danny Huston.

Key facts

  • The Dead Don't Hurt is a Western drama set in the 1860s.
  • Viggo Mortensen wrote, directed, produced, scored, and stars in the film.
  • The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2023.
  • It was released theatrically in North America on May 31, 2024.
  • The story features a French Canadian main character, connecting to Canadian identity.
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Canadian context

The film features a French Canadian main character, Vivienne Le Coudy, and its story connects to Canadian identity through that character’s background.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Dead Don't Hurt about?
It is a Western drama about a Danish immigrant and a French Canadian woman whose relationship is tested by the American Civil War and frontier violence.
Who directed The Dead Don't Hurt?
Viggo Mortensen directed the film.
When did The Dead Don't Hurt premiere?
It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2023.
When was The Dead Don't Hurt released theatrically?
It was released in North America on May 31, 2024.
What genre is The Dead Don't Hurt?
It is generally described as a Western drama.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dead_Don't_Hurt
    Supports: Basic film credits, cast, alternate titles, premiere date, and North American release date.
  2. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-dead-dont-hurt-film-review-2024
    Supports: Mortensen as writer, director, and star; setting in the American West; Holger Olsen as a Danish immigrant.
  3. Chicago Critics Film Festival — https://www.chicagocriticsfilmfestival.com/the-dead-dont-hurt
    Supports: Plot summary, principal characters, and narrative context.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22773644/
    Supports: Character names and basic synopsis.