Dead Birds is heavily influenced by the recent eastern horror boom, concentrating on atmospherics and mood rather than shocks for most of its length. Unfortunately it resorts to some unlikely gore in places, and completely fails to make any sense in the plot department.

It’s a shame as the cast is good (Henry Thomas, Patrick Fugit and Isaiah Washington along with a few other familiar faces) and it’s obviously a labour of love. The box carefully fails to mention that this in fact a Western and the victims are a group of Confederate bank robbers, and having seen it twice I’ve still no idea why it’s called Dead Birds.

If you like offbeat horror you’ll enjoy it.

Mild Peril Rating:

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