Director Sam Raimi has directed some truly iconic movies, yet his Western,The Quick and the Dead, is one of his most underrated films of all time, despite poor reviews. Raimi’s rise to fame began back in 1981 when he directedthe cult classic horror movie,The Evil Dead.From there, the director took on various different genres, from crime thrillers to fantasies. Notably, he helmed the much-lovedSpider-Manmovies from 2002 to 2007. Yet,one Raimi movie that is often overlooked, and is only now getting the attention it deserves, is his 1995 Western.
The Quick and the Deadisthe seventh movie Raimi directedin his career, and is his only Western to date. The movie includes an incredibly star-studded cast, including Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe, Leonardo DiCaprio, and more. In the film, Stone plays"The Lady," a gunslinger who travels to the town of Redemption and enters a dueling competitionto get revenge for her father’s death. Upon its release,The Quick and the Deadgathered mixed reviews, with most critics panning the film for its clichés and failure to recreate the magic of previous Westerns.
Despite the poor reviews ofThe Quick and the Dead,the movie is truly one of Raimi’s most underrated projects. Looking at Raimi’s resume, it’s easy to point out movies likeArmy of DarknessorSpider-Man 2as his best works. However,The Quick and the Deadcombines a number of Raimi’s best qualities. The Western has an outstanding cast, innovative filmmaking, and a visually stunning story. Raimi certainly takes pointersfrom Western directors of the past, but it is hard to ignore his own style within this movie, and it is wild fun.
The Quick and the Deadhas a 58% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Fortunately,The Quick and the Deadhas been reassessed in recent years by critics and audiences.Many entertainment writers have putThe Quick and the Deadin their top three favorite Raimi movies, citing it as a snappy film that subverts classic Western tropes while also maintaining the core of a beloved Western story. Some have even praised the movie as being a feminist hit that unapologetically plows full speed ahead with its characters and visuals.
One big reason whyThe Quick and the Deadwas received so poorly was because it came out at a time when Westerns were on a decline. For decades, Westerns had been a staple of the Hollywood landscape, but during the 1990s, these films were being replaced with other genres such as thrillers, horrors, and rom-coms. In this way,audiences likely were not prepared for Raimi’s mix of Western nostalgia and fresh new takes at this time. This definitely could have skewed opinions to be more negative.
“He Didn’t Ever Talk To Me Again”: Sharon Stone Slams Sam Raimi After Working With Him On 1995 Western Movie
Sharon Stone slams director Sam Raimi after working with him on his 1995 Western movie, saying he never spoke to her again after wrapping.
The good news is, a few decades later,The Quick and the Deadhas finally made its comeback. This movie definitely is not for everyone, but those who love Raimi’s style, should definitely check this project out. There is over-the-top action, wonderful actors, and a story that isn’t often portrayed in this specific genre. All in all,The Quick and the Deaddeserves its newfound fame, even all these years later.
The Quick and the Dead
Cast
The Quick and the Dead, directed by Sam Raimi, is a Western film released in 1995. It stars Sharon Stone as Ellen, a mysterious gunslinger who arrives in the town of Redemption to enter a quick-draw competition. The film features a strong ensemble cast including Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe, and Leonardo DiCaprio, and delves into themes of revenge and justice in a lawless town.
