More Dead than Alive
More Dead than Alive

Movie spotlight

More Dead than Alive

1969
Movie
101 min
English

When the multiple murderer Cain is released from prison after 18 years, he wants to settle down as a rancher and never touch a gun again. But his former life haunts him; not only that nobody wants to give him a job, some villains also want to pay him back. So he has to accept the offer of showman Ruffalo to perform as "Killer Cain" in his traveling shooting show. However after 18 years without practice even Ruffalo's young assistant Billy shoots better than Cain.

Insights

IMDb5.4/10
Director: R. L. TolbertGenres: Horror, Western

Plot Summary

A successful plastic surgeon, Arthur Cameron, is shot and presumed dead by his wife and her lover. He survives and, disfigured, takes on a new identity as a drifter in the Old West. While trying to piece his life back together, he grapples with his past and the violence that has defined him. The film explores themes of identity, revenge, and the dark side of human nature in a gritty, Western setting.

Critical Reception

More Dead than Alive is a peculiar blend of Western and horror that received a mixed reception upon its release. While some critics appreciated its ambitious thematic elements and gritty atmosphere, many found its pacing uneven and its narrative somewhat disjointed. Audience reactions were similarly divided, with some drawn to its unique genre fusion and others put off by its darker, more violent undertones.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its unconventional genre mixing and dark, atmospheric tone.

  • Criticized for its slow pacing and occasionally confusing plot.

  • Vince Edwards' performance as the disfigured protagonist was noted as a highlight.

Google audience: Google user reviews are scarce for this lesser-known film, making it difficult to ascertain specific audience sentiments. However, what little is available suggests a cult following appreciates its unique horror-Western blend, while others found it dated and unsatisfying.

Fun Fact

The film was shot in and around Tucson, Arizona, leveraging the desert landscapes to create its desolate atmosphere.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Wuchak

Wuchak

**_Clint Walker as an ex-con in Arizona and Vincent Price a Western show barker_** In 1891, a former gunfighter (Walker) gets out of prison in Yuma and is taken aback by how things have changed in the two decades that he’s been locked up...

Aqueronte72

Aqueronte72

> Once again, the internal conflict of the protagonist, Cane, (at least the first part of the film) goes into the background -which is not anything after 18 years in prison and the association lynches the ex-convict in each town he arrives ...