Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.0 |
| Video |  | 4.5 |
| Audio | | 4.0 |
| Extras |  | 2.5 |
| Overall | | 4.0 |
More Dead Than Alive Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 21, 2014
Studying the stain of violence, 1969’s “More Dead Than Alive” takes on a troubling reality with the western genre, where men of sheer brutality have to eventually move on with their lives, with some looking to step away from such physical temptations. For Cain (Clint Walker), a history of violence has left him unemployable, tempted by sideshow owner Ruffalo (Vincent Price) to pick up a gun after 18 years of imprisonment and revive a brand name, “Killer Cain,” that’s made him a legend in the old west -- a legacy he wants nothing to do with until financial strain demands to be tended to.
Directed by Robert Sparr and scripted by George Schenck, “More Dead Than Alive” isn’t a typical western with heroes and villains, but a thoughtful picture the tracks Cain’s desperation to its natural conclusion, working through colorful supporting characters who want to see the rehabbed killer return to his once dominant way with evil, while a lonely frontier artist, Monica (Anne Francis), finds good in the man, allowing Cain a rare shot of hope. Arranging scenes of temptation, “More Dead Than Alive” builds an impressive character study, with Cain reluctantly reuniting with his old self to make a living, while irritating Billy (Paul Hampton), a teen trick shooter who can’t stand the competition. While violence erupts periodically, the feature is more interested in Cain’s emotional health, studying his tortured position between the life’s he’s left behind and the one he’s earned through intense introspection.
More Dead Than Alive Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is billed as a remaster, and it certainly looks refreshed for BD. Detail is especially strong, permitting the viewer to survey frame particulars and explore the actors, with subtle acting registering crisply here. Costuming is equally textured. Colors are vibrant, with bold primaries preserving the period look. Black levels are secure, offering ideal delineation. There's no overt print damage.
More Dead Than Alive Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is straightforward but very effective, with a warm read of scoring cues that hold their instrumentation and position of support. Dialogue exchanges are clean and natural, sustaining dramatic intent without any distortive interruptions. Gunfire and town atmospherics are introduced with confidence.
More Dead Than Alive Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- Interview (10:18, HD) with star Clint Walker is a simple conversation about his career and discomfort with the new face of Hollywood in the 1970s, where sex and violence took over. A true assessment of "More Dead Than Alive" is missing, but it's interesting to hear Walker's hesitation with the movie, which he only seems marginally fond of.
- And a Theatrical Trailer (1:00, HD) is included.
More Dead Than Alive Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
"More Dead Than Alive" has trouble finding a suitable conclusion, but the build-up is exceptionally performed by the cast and scripted with a mission to comprehend character headspace. While handed Hollywood polish, the film remains raw and unsettled, concentrating on particularly catastrophic life decisions handled by a fragile man who's surrounded by onlookers that won't let him forget his past.
