Dead In Tombstone is a direct to video action film set in the “old west” starring Danny Trejo as the leader of a gang that is wanted dead or alive. Anthony Michael Hall is his half-brother and Mickey Rourke is Lucifer. A big score is established and the gang heads out. Unfortunately Danny Trejo’s character is betrayed, then Lucifer revives him to enact a version of justice.
Since Mickey Rourke is Lucifer there is a bit of a supernatural twist to the story. Unfortunately it takes a half hour out of the film’s hour and 40 minute running time to get started. It just takes too long to get going. We know these are bad men, we know there is a betrayal we know Lucifer is involved, so why spend so much time “establishing” the characters and setting? It just isn’t necessary. That half hour could (and should) have easily been condensed into 15 minutes or less.
I wanted to like Dead In Tombstone. I really did. It’s not that it was too violent ot overly gratuitous, it was the pacing. The film sort of plods along even when it does finally get going with the plot.
The film comes in a rated and unrated version, and I’m not sure why. Since it is a direct to video release there isn’t much need for a rated version. I’m sure there was a plan to release it theatrically, necessitating a cut that would be seen by the MPAA. Without a theatrical release, however, that is a moot point.
That seems to be much of the operating course for the film. Danny Trejo, Anthony Michael Hall and Mickey Rourke all do a good job. The script and directing is where Dead In Tombstone falters. It’s a decent enough film for what it is, it just should have been better.
As for the special features, well, there’s deleted scenes, a “making of” featurette, audio commentary, and a few other featurettes but none of them really help the main feature. I think Dead In Tombstone is best for Danny Trejo fans only, which is a shame.