Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Dead Again in Tombstone Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 9, 2017

Dead Again in Tombstone begins with a brief recap of the last film, introducing the main character and his devilish backstory. Watch all about it in Dead in Tombstone. The sequel delivers more undead gunslinging action in the old American West, this time centered on the story of a band of disgruntled Confederate soldiers battling Guerrero on his own turf. The film delivers a familiar air of style besting substance, engaged acting, and not much depth to its story, but...it's a Supernatural Western, a playground on which to explore some nifty ideas and give the classic American genre a little 21st century undead spunk and spirit. Snotty cinephiles obviously need not apply, but less demanding audiences more open to novelty and frivolity may very well find the film an enjoyable diversion from overwrought mainstream blockbusters and stuffy awards-angled dramas.

Guerrero (Danny Trejo) is back in Tombstone! This time, he finds himself pitted against a band of dangerous and determined Confederate soldiers led by Colonel Jackson Boomer (Jake Busey) who tracks Guerrero down and demands he turn over a chest holding a powerful artifact. Guerrero can't do that, but he's pushed harder and harder, and Boomer eventually involves and threatens his family, including daughter Alicia (Elysia Rotaru) who waitresses at a seedy saloon. In order to save his family and protect the artifact from falling into the wrong hands, Guerrero will have to call on his supernatural powers -- and accept some help from unlikely allies -- if he's to save the day and save the lives of those he cares for the most.

Dead Again in Tombstone flaunts its style at every opportunity. There's no shortage of harsh backlighting and silhouetted characters, slow-motion frenzies, hard-angled photography, and even a sprinkling of T&A. The movie strives for a blend of classic Western motifs and even some traditional photography intermixed with a cutting-edge modern story and construction that works more or less well within the movie's context and confines. It tries, but it never plays as overbearing or feels overwhelming to the film. Director Roel Reiné, who also helmed the first film, crafts with an experienced hand, an understanding of the movie's, and the style's, strengths, playing to them and shying away from pace-destroying scenes and excess lavishness. He finds a nice blend of narrative grit and technical grace, and while the movie doesn't really amount to much, there's no mistaking that it plays well, plays at an agreeable pace, and plays with enough scene-chewing acting and violence to satisfy base demands for a film of this style.

Certainly, the acting isn't going to garner the performers any major awards, but genre mainstays Danny Trejo and Jake Busey find a pleasing balance between rough-and-tumble grit and mild comic undertones that give the movie an edge, but not one so sharp it hurts. They know the movie is less a serious endeavor and more a light bit of escapism and they seem to enjoy working it for all it's worth. Neither they nor the filmmakers, from Reiné on down, mistake the movie as anything but entertainment. Sure it's competent and slickly produced, with action aplenty and some spiritual warfare mixed in for good measure, but the film remains light on its feet, never burdensome with unnecessary plot contrivance or complications. Shootouts are fun, character quips and quirks and exchanges are hearty and natural, and the support structure production values are appropriately dense and authentic. The movie loses a bit of luster with its digital photography that trades a rough-and-tumble façade for a values-betraying smoothness, but even still the film proves otherwise well done and absorbing enough to overcome what might have been, in this writer's eyes, a near-fatal flaw. This isn't highbrow art but rather popcorn entertainment, and it fits that bill well enough.

Dead Again in Tombstone Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

As noted above, Dead Again in Tombstone was digitally photographed, and while the textural richness that might have enhanced the movie with a film shoot is missing, Universal's 1080p transfer does offer a satisfying watch within the digital format's attributes. Noise can be a bit heavy in low light. Mild compression artifacts and slight banding are occasionally visible, too, but such usually give way to the robust details seen throughout. The image is razor-sharp and very clear, offering a smooth, flat veneer but a textural complexity that brings out the finest in weathered faces, worn clothes, and earthy terrain. Building façades reveal impressively complex woods and other structural details. Colors are well saturated, suitably vibrant and necessary, particularly against the earthy exteriors and darker interiors or nighttime scenes. Black levels hold firm and flesh tones appear accurate.

Dead Again in Tombstone Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Dead Again in Tombstone's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack delivers a healthy, enveloping, and enjoyably robust sound presentation. Thunder and rain impress as the film begins, with the latter saturating through every speaker and the former offering a distinct crack and a trailing dispersal. Action scenes are robust and detailed, with gunfire and chaos flowing from every speaker with screen-reflective placement and quality depth. A few explosions offer walloping bass, the shake-the-furniture kind that charges a couple of key scenes. Musical delivery is detailed, smoothly spaced, and immersive. Dialogue is clear, well prioritized, and consistently positioned in the front-center channel.

Dead Again in Tombstone Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Dead Again in Tombstone contains a couple of featurettes, deleted scenes, and an audio commentary track. A UV/iTunes digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Resurrecting the Western: Making Dead Again in Tombstone (1080p, 4:00): Cast and crew discuss the characters, the world, the film's diverse elements, action, Roel Reiné's direction, and shooting locations.
• Home in Tombstone: Danny Trejo as Guerrero (1080p, 3:47): A closer look at the actor and the character he portrays.
• Deleted Shots Montage (1080p, 5:23): Additional moments not seen in the film.
• Audio Commentary: Director Roel Reiné, Editor Radu Ion, Director of Photography Rolf Dekens, Writer Ethan Wiley, and Grid VFX CEO Jan Goosen comprise a wide-ranging roster that brings a lot of knowledge and experience to the table, offering together a varied and informative track that offers a substantial look into the making of the movie. The track includes some call-ins; not everyone is sitting in the recording room.

Dead Again in Tombstone Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Dead Again in Tombstone hardly qualifies as classic cinema, but it's a good vessel for escapist entertainment. Cast and crew know the movie's limits, reach them, and don't overextend. It's not overly crude, not overly violent, not overly complex. Solid action, mildly interesting characters made better by quality performances, and honest production values minus the glossy digital sheen make this a genre film worth watching. Universal's Blu-ray delivers healthy video and audio along with a small supplemental package. Give it a look.