Dead Man's Revenge (1994)

To me, this movie is perfection.

Redundant and unnecessary.

The first must-see film of the year.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Bruce Dern is the bad guy (what a "surprise") and Michael Ironside is the GOOD GUY (surprise!), in this failed mish-mash of a western. What starts out as a gritty revenge tale, eventually deteriorates into a ridiculous swindle scheme. The murky plot is rushed to conclusion, with very little character development of the numerous players. Believability is stretched to the maximum, and beyond the always interesting Bruce Dern and Michael Ironside, there is little here to like. I would have preferred a simple shootout instead of this convoluted western, which tries to be clever but fails miserably.................. - MERK

Bitter and vengeful fugitive Luck Hatcher (an excellent performance by Michael Ironside), dignified former slave turned bounty hunter Jessup Bush (well played by Vondie Curtis-Hall), and wily deputy U.S. Marshal Bodine (a solid and engaging portrayal by Keith Coulouris) all converge in a small town in order to hatch an intricate con in order to bring greedy and ruthless railroad speculator Payton McCay (the always great Bruce Dern in fine slimy and hateful form) to justice. Director Alan J. Levi relates the tricky story at a steady pace, offers a credible evocation of the period, and further spruces things up with amusing touches of sharp humor. The smart and engrossing script by Jim Byrnes and David Chisholm boasts several neat twists and turns and gives everyone a valid reason for seeking revenge on McCay. The first-rate cast rates as another a major asset: Daphne Ashbrook as shrewd bank president Carrey Rose, Tobin Bell as McCay's vicious right-hand man Bullock, Melora Walters as sweet and ditsy saloon gal Bunny, and Doug McClure as the bumbling Granger. Moreover, there are nifty bits by Luis Contreras, M.C. Gainey, Robert Cornthwaite, and country singer Randy Travis (as a U.S. Marshal). Moreover, it's a real treat to see Ironside in a rare and refreshing heroic lead role. John Beymer's bright cinematography and David Schwartz's flavorsome score are both up to par. Worth a watch.

Booker's critique of Deadman's Revenge was right on the money! I own a videotape of this film and have watched it many times and indeed, the character actors of Booker the Piano Player and Polsen the Bartender are both unique and depict the people who inhabited the Old West so accurately and look as though they were lifted from the photographs of the U.S. South West of the late 19th Century. Michael Ironside played his role extremely well and it was a surprise to see him as the "good guy" for a change! Randy Travis added luster to this film well directed by Levi who also directed other memorable films and t.v. series, Doug McClure was superb in his role though short it was, he got the most of it and ended an unsurpassed career , especially in Westerns. Vondie Kurtis Hall added the African-American cowboy element left out of earlier Westerns. Like Herb Jeffries, Hall contributed a realistic image of the black cowboy. Oscar Micheaux would have been proud of him! The twists and turns were really great and held me in suspense when I saw it for the first time and was amazed at the transformation of the main character played by Michael Ironside from a youthful man with a full head of hair to a mature man who was unashamed of going bald. Bruce Dern was excellent as usual and knows how to portray the "bad guy." I'd highly recommend this film to all Western fans for its realistic portrayal of the Old West! I buy copies of the video and give them to friends and relatives as Christmas stocking fillers and for gifts at Channuka and Kwaanza too! If you see this video on sale, buy it because when you go back after deciding, it'll be gone and in some other luck soul's video collection. Hope it comes out on DVD soon! Booker had it right!

Not since Gary Cooper starred in High Noon has there been an adult Western like "Dead Man's Revenge" which starred Bruce Dern and Tobin Bell as the "bad guys," it also starred Doug McClure, this was his last movie prior to his death from cancer, he was brave up to the last and always in good spirits on the set! Also in this motion picture was Larry Polsen as the bartender who added so much as a character actor with his distinctive gaunt looks. Herbert H. Booker 2nd (Sarge) was the Piano Player, a ruggedly handsome longhaired bearded character, who like the bartender, added so much to the background colour of this remarkable film. Vondie Curtis-Hall turned in an excellent portrayal of an African-American in the old West in a role that was not servile and demeaning, but pride and dignity to the role of the black cowboy, he would rank with Herb Jeffries, the Bronze Buckaroo! Believe it or not, Michael Ironsides who is the main star is also the good guy! Melora Walters plays Bunny, a strong woman who ranks among Barbara Stanwyck and Kathrine Hepburn. This is a "must-rent" or own movie available on VHS video and DVD. This is the best Adult Western since "High Noon" and "Shane."