Every once in a while a horror film will try to jump into new territory and actually show a little bit of originality.  Let's face it, original ideas in horror are few and far in between.  Just look at all the American remakes of classic Japanese horror.  I, for one, can not name a single American remake that even comes close to the quality of the original Japanese version.  Still, the Japanese have fallen into the same trap as American directors and screenwriters have for the last decade or so.  How many movies about ghost children (Ringu, Ju-on) are still to be made and how many "WB horror" films (Jeepers Creepers, Cursed) are still being produced as we speak?.  I try not to think about it.  Thank god for films like 1999’s Ravenous and 1997’s Mimic.  I probably don’t need to go THAT far back to find original titles but they are none the less the first that come to mind.  They aren't just movies about cannibalism or giant bugs in the sewer systems.   They are intelligent, creepy, and most importantly, original takes on all too familiar premises.  I recommend these two films along with Alex Turner’s 2004 release of Dead Birds.  Here we take a dash of ghost story, a little bit of black magic, a sprinkle of the old creature feature formula, and we mix it into a big bowl of civil war drama.  The ending result is a deliciously spooky tale that will leave you applauding well after the credits finish rolling.

At first glance, Dead Birds will play out as an old western.  A group of confederate soldiers (and one fine purdy lady!) slowly ride in on horseback looking to rob the local town bank.  Before the action takes place you might even recognize the town from a recent Tim Burton film.  Big Fish Baby!  Timmy sold the town to a bunch of horror buffs looking to shoot a low budget film!  I love it!!
Well…anyway…gold coins are soon stolen from the bank and before riding the next day to the Mexican border, the group of thieves decides to hide out in a nearby house on an old plantation.  During the night, a hellish rain storm emerges and strange figures start to appear within random rooms that are scattered within the house.  Slowly we start to learn the truth as to what exactly happened to the family that used to live on the plantation.  We start to learn that horrific demons dwell within the household and the truth behind the kinds of creatures that inhabit the thick mazes of corn fields that surround the entire estate.

Now, there is always a lot going on in Dead Birds.  There are numerous conflicts that emerge between each of the thieves because they all want to make sure they receive their fair share of the gold.  Alliances are made and enemies are formed rather quickly.  You could have an interesting story right there and call it a film but noooo.   Director Alex Turner is about to throw in A LOT of spiritual conflicts.  So much so that it’s easy to get lost and question the actual intent of the film in terms of subject matter.  Not too much time is spent actually putting together the pieces of the houses past owners, which were for one reason or another, murdered for the sake of justice or demonic sacrifice.  As the film comes to a close, you might start scratching your head and asking yourself what exactly it was that you just witnessed.  I still have a lot of questions I’d like to ask like, what the hell was breaking out of the slave’s stomach?  Why do certain characters magically disappear into thin air?  I mean…it’s perfectly normal to have open ended events happen within certain horror films but I’m not sure if it’s somewhere that Dead Birds should have gone.  The movie craves a solid plot with a well thought out premise and story line.  What we’re left with is a film that has one hell of an original idea that perhaps gets a little too caught up in its own attempts to become so unique and original.

Alex Turner on the other hand can certainly deliver the tension.  The film has a very odd pacing to it, but I can still say that I was both scared shitless and on the edge of my seat throughout the entire running time.  Atmosphere plays a huge part in the overall look and feel to the film as well.  Characters are constantly moving in and out of mysteriously lit rooms.  The walls are grainy and stained with who knows what!  All of the doors creek and all the floor boards squeak.  In the end, it’s as if the house has become a character in itself.  If you think that certain characters aren’t meant to be trusted, wait till you are introduced to this gigantic 19th century home.  Brings new meaning to the classic Amityville line "GET OUT".

All the performances are solid throughout the entire film and they are all working from the same very well written script.  All the characters have there own niche and each actor plays out their specific traits perfectly.  The only name you'll probably recognize is Isaiah Washington's who plays the sensible and soft spoken male of the group.  Possibly also Henry Thomas who plays William, the group’s natural leader who helped organizes the entire robbery and getaway plan.  Some of the lines toward the end are a little on the cheesy side as the film tries to convey it’s overall message that there are some things worse than death, but this can easily be overlooked as the film closes to it’s brilliant and jaw dropping conclusion.

Despite the films lack of adequate explanation to its constantly expanding plot, it works well as a horror film that dips down into multiple areas of suspenseful filmmaking.  For those of you that like a little bit of history in your horror films, you’ll feel right at home with Dead Birds.  It’s hard to compare it to anything else really.  I’d throw it into a category by itself.  The pacing is very odd and it’s almost too easy to say that the film moves at a rather slow pace.  This isn’t to say that at any time I was bored with the film either.  The suspense and frequent uses of very gory flesh wounds will keep you cringing and at the edge of your seat probably even begging for more!  Some of the gore can be a little over the top and rather silly at times but it still is, for the most part, extremely realistic and discomforting.

I highly recommend this film despite its short comings.  It’s a nice break from the tired remakes and rehashed formulas of both American and international horror.  It deserves a second look to rekindle the actual story and appreciate Turner’s technique to this rather timid yet spooky and suspenseful film.