Brightlyme
i know i wasted 90 mins of my life.
Sammy-Jo Cervantes
There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.
Michelle Ridley
The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity
Darin
One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.
moonspinner55
Clint Walker, still trying to find his niche as an actor post-"Cheyenne", plays a reformed gunslinger in 1891 Arizona who is set free after 18 years in jail; unable to find work because of his reputation, he takes a job with a low-rent traveling western show. This is the old plot about the once-legendary, now-rehabilitated killer who is constantly put in harm's way by folks hoping to boost their profiles by challenging him. As a young hotshot with a bitchy-sinister stare, Paul Hampton gives one of the most excruciating performances I've ever seen. His overacting is made all the more noticeable by Walker's solemn, funereal under-playing (as if he were going to the gallows any minute). If you do watch, see if you can figure out why the early jail-break sequence takes place AFTER a group of prisoners have already been hanged. The title, presumably a twist on the old "Wanted-Dead or Alive" ploy, is mildly condescending in this context--although it serves to describe the film's handling accurately. * from ****
Johnboy1221
The title is misleading (as though it's some kind of zombie horror film), but this is definitely my kind of western. It's dark, sadistic, and action-filled. Clint Walker fans won't be disappointed, and I love the ending. Vincent Price seems to be having a great time in his role, and although Mike Henry is underused, he does a great job with his small, but important role, playing one of the villains. Hampton looks the part, but tends to overact a little (though not to the extent some have said) and ultimately he does well. I would rather have seen a tougher-looking guy in his role, such as Dean Smith, but it's not that big an issue.In short, this is a dark, action-packed unique western, and I'm delighted that it's now on DVD in widescreen.
BachlorinParadise
More Dead Than Alive turns out to be a surprisingly entertaining and fairly well-acted B movie.Clint Walker gives his typical "gentle giant" performance as Killer Cain, a convicted murderer who is released after 18 years in prison. After a senseless prison shootout in the beginning of the movie, you expert this film to be nothing more that a "shootem-up". However, once Walker's character is released from prison, the movie becomes a well-acted drama about such topics as prison reform, parole, murder, hero worship, forgiveness and the desire for fame.More Dead Than Alive's best performance is from Horror King, Vincent Price as Dan Ruffallo, a carnival barker with a traveling gun show. It's one of Price's best latter career performances.The kicker in More Dead Than Alive is the shocking surprise ending. So, if you're a fan of Clint Walker or Vincent Price, More Dead Than Alive is the film to see.
dinky-4
Yes, this is a change of pace from the standard American western. Instead of the usual action and movement, we get a lot of dialog exchanged in enclosed places, as if this were a TV drama from the early 1950s. While the results aren't bad, they're not recommended, either, which is unfortunate since there are ingredients here for a good movie, and the eclectic cast is better than average. In what other movie can you find "Cheyenne," (Clint Walker), "Dr. Phibes," (Vincent Price), "Tarzan," (Mike Henry), and "Altaira" from "Forbidden Planet," (Anne Francis)? Incidentally, while Clint Walker and Mike Henry possessed two of the finest physiques ever to strut across the silver screen, neither man takes his shirt off in this movie. What a waste!
