Viggo Mortensen’s new Western feature The Dead Don’t Hurt will open exclusively in theaters nationwide on May 31, 2024. 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.
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 (Corsage, Phantom Thread) and Viggo Mortensen (The Lord of the Rings, Captain Fantastic) lead this gripping Western tale alongside an impressive cast that includes Solly McLeod, Garret Dillahunt, Colin Morgan, Ray McKinnon, W. Earl Brown, newcomer Atlas Green, and Danny Huston. 

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

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.