This was a bleak movie, yes. Emile Hirsch also had a terrible Irish accent. But despite some of the more obvious gripes about the movie, this one is well worth the watch.

Sure, the whole undertaker thing might be a little on the nose, but I love the lessons in supply and demand: Cusack kills, Hirsch buries, and suddenly the Californian gold rush comes to a nowhere town.

Another interesting dynamic was the shifting power dynamics between the sheriff, the priest, and the outlaw.

In my opinion this film is thoughtful, entertaining, somewhat well-acted, and well worth the invested time.

Simply another western? No way. This is serious stuff. One of the best westerns I have seen the last decade. Honest. NOT suited for the masses who yearn to see a glorious western, with fun action, because this movie is as bleak as it gets. I have rarely ever before seen such a true to life, BLEAK and DARK western. And I have been watching westerns for over 40 years.

It's terribly bleak, true to life and dark, yet captivating and gorgeous to look at because of the low light photography, which makes it look like I was transported back in time. It all looks so real and the director made that possible by studying pictures from that era.

THE STORY: A slowburning tale about faith and sinners, in which outlaw John Cusack terrorizes a religious, god fearing, small western town. Will faith conquer evil or will the sinners (the outlaws) triumph with their cruel violence?

Definitely one of the very best acting performances of John Cusack of the last decade, maybe even the very best of his entire career. John Cusack is not the leading man though, but his performance of an outlaw is one of the best I have seen.

It ain't bleak and dark, because of the detailed violence, but because of the true to life depiction of the characters, who are in deep despair: a mother who sells her daughter as a prostitute, a deeply religious mother, who turns to violence, a loving father, who sells his soul for money. All these characters are being portrayed so realistically, that I had to skip some scenes, because I simply couldnt stand the suffering these God fearing Americans had to endure.

A new, worthy addition to the grand American Western movie tradition. One of a kind. Chilling to the bone. Bleak yet Beautiful. New western classic?

If your looking for a good quick western this is good. Kids characters i think weren't written for the day but that's it. I dont know why this is rated by viewers so low. Currently at 5.8, not a must see but not a 5.8 either.