What drew me into seeing 'The Good, The Bad and the Dead' in the first place? The reasonably likeable cast, a potentially intriguing story and that it was part of my low budget completest quest and popped up in my recommended for you section. Was also a bit apprehensive, with a less than favourable rating and generally reviews that were lukewarm at best and most being very negative.
'The Good, The Bad and the Dead', when checking it out, certainly could have been much worse. There are definitely worse films about, of the genre and overall. Is it a good film let alone a great one? Not even close. Did it use its potential? No. Is it that bad? Not quite. Does it has redeeming qualities? Yes, but not many. To me, while having learnt not to trust ratings and not worry about going against the grain (though am in the minority here who respects critics opinions and tend to be on the same, or slightly above or below, page as them), the rating is about right and do have to agree with the criticisms here. This is coming from someone who did want to sort of like it.
Johnny Messner and Dolph Lundgren fare quite well and give charisma and engagement. Messner gives the better performance of the two and by far and large the best thing about 'The Good, The Bad and the Dead'.
Some of the story intrigued, with a very promising beginning, and the music while not the most memorable is at least listenable.
Unfortunately, Danny Trejo cannot save it in a role that should have been perfect for him and over-compensates from start to finish of his screen time. Natassia Malfe is just weird and not in a good way. None of the characters are developed enough and are very difficult to get behind, in a film with far too many and some not necessary to the story. 'The Good, The Bad and The Dead' looks cheap, especially the badly organised and sometimes incomprehensible editing. The action is both dull and chaotic, there is nothing exciting and it's choreographed with no enthusiasm or finesse.
The script is too talky and has no tautness, the pace is flabby and the story gets far too complicated, again from trying to do too much, with any twist attempts being extremely predictable. The direction seemed indicative of lack of experience or ease.
Overall, not horrendous but severely lacking in many areas. 3/10 Bethany Cox
