Dead Man's Burden (2012) Reviews

• Utterly Simple Yet Exceptional

  akirkman102013-06-11

  Dead Man's Burden is a low budget independent film that follows the story of a family post Civil War. I was impressed by Jared Moshé's directing and writing and while there is room for improvement I believe he does hold much skill and knowledge for film. The film location alone of New Mexico adds intrigue and beauty as well as capturing the tone of a traditional Western. Barlow Jacobs and David Call were decent, however at times rather cheesy. Clare Bowen gives a standout performance as Martha Kirkland. I hold high hopes for her in the future as she continues Nashville and works on future projects. All in all this film is worth viewing at least once and I urge you to give it a chance.

• Deep, thought-provoking, passionate film!

  kritzer-lauren2013-05-09

  Dead Man's Burden was an incredible film and the end was enjoyably unexpected. Throughout the film, you focus on understanding each character and their motives. The scenery is beautiful as it takes place in a western "slow moving" deserted town but don't let the characters fool you - they are more deep, twisted, and intelligent than you think! After the movie finished, it was very easy to sit there and think back to all the 'signs'. I really want to see the movie again so I can watch the progression of how the characters became who they were. There are not many movies out there that put the focus on acting, plot and scenery. It seems movies have animations and various scenes that are very distracting and then they spoon feed you the story line - Dead Man's Burden did not do that and I enjoyed every minute of it.

• A worthy well made low budget western

  Tony Rome2012-10-07

  Director Jared Mosche makes a fine feature film debut with "Dead Mans Burden" This film made its east cost premier at the 20th Hamptons International Film Festival. Mosche brilliantly captures the lawlessness of the mid to late nineteenth century American west. The film centers around the death of a family member, and the mine that wants to purchase the family ranch. Richard Riehle (from the comedy "Office Space") does a fine job playing the best and only friend of the deceased. His performance captures the loneliness and disconnection of a person living in the middle of nowhere, coping with the death of his friend. Hopefully this film finds a distributor.

• A Great Film for readers rather than spoon feeders

  jpp10232013-06-15

  I'm sad to see such ignorant criticism posted about this fine film. It is well crafted, well acted, well written and the cinematography is mesmerizing amidst the colors of the New Mexican desert. It is important to note that this is a literary minded drama with the right amount of action. It is not a shoot-em-up action film with Clint Eastwood type one liners. It reminds me of Greek Tragedy and I can't explain the details why without spoilers so just keep that in mind as you view and any reader of classics will clearly see these timeless themes and cautionary tales of morality inherent in the story line. I was impressed at the implied back stories which indicated the family's troubles existed prior to their current explosive dilemma. The story accomplishes so much meaning with spare details that become crystallized as the film concludes. This film deserves a much much higher rating so if you like it as much as I did please share a review that will help ensure people won't pass over this great Western Drama because of an unfair rating.

• Mumbling Martha

  PaulDVernon2015-02-20

  I, personally, love slow burners like this one - with beautiful western scenery, long single- take shots, and interesting and attractive characters. I agree with nearly everything already mentioned in the previous reviews so won't repeat all that here. Save to say I felt the dialog, and this the film, was spoiled by Martha's mumbling! I had to turn on the sub-titles to understand what Clare Bowen was saying as she truly is one of the world's greatest mumblers. (Even in Nashville I have difficulty understanding her.) And even the sub-title writer must have had problems, because quite often in Martha's speech it would just say "inaudible". That said it is a beautiful western! And we don't see too many of them around these days.