Dead Birds (2004)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Alex Turner

Writer:

Simon Barrett (written by)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

There are worse things than dying

Plot:

A group of Confederate soldiers who hole up in an abandoned plantation after robbing a bank, and find themselves at the mercy of supernatural forces.

Plot Keywords:

Bank | Supernatural | Racial Tension | Overnight In A Haunted House | Racist Comment

Cast

Henry Thomas	...	William
Patrick Fugit	...	Sam
Nicki Aycox	...	Annabelle
Michael Shannon	...	Clyde
Muse Watson	...	Father
Mark Boone Junior	...	Joseph
Isaiah Washington	...	Todd
Harris Mann	...	Jeffy Hollister
Melanie Abramoff	...	Girl Ghost
Donna Biscoe	...	Black Woman
Brian Bremer	...	Hysterical Man
Russ Comegys	...	Kormer (as Russell Durham Comegys)
David Dwyer	...	MacCready
Michael Faella	...	Johnson
Steve Green	...	Boy Ghost

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and gore.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Video rating) | USA:R (certificate #40961) | Brazil:18 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | UK:15 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Mobile, Alabama, USA

Company:

Silver Nitrate Pictures

Trivia:

This film was shot in 21 days.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the soldiers arrive at the house before they enter it is daylight. In the next scene when they enter the house, it is pitch black.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Making 'Dead Birds' (2005) (V)

A fun little horror picture.

I have long felt that the western genre was ripe to be mixed with the horror genre and it's nice to finally see someone agree with me. Mixing the elements alone wouldn't have worked if the film was lacking, fortunately that is not the case.

During the civil war period, a gang performs a violent bank robbery and then steals off, heading for the border with Mexico. Along the way they stop for rest at an abandoned farm. During their stay it begins to become increasingly clear that things are not right with the house and the land it occupies. Before long survival becomes the only question.

The set-up itself is not original, but the time period most certainly is. It takes an already violent period in history and puts an even darker twist on it.

Complimenting the action well is an overall nice cast that seem to fit their roles and avoid chewing the scenery. I give biggest props to the creature designers; though there is precious little footage of the beasts, what you do get to see is unique and frightening.

One of the better horror films in recent years, combining atmosphere and suspense with some good-old-fashioned visceral scares for max effect. The only glaring problem is a prodding mid-section of the film that runs on a little too long without much happening.

Quality scares worth a look.

8/10