Dead Man is a 1995 American western film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. Starring Johnny Depp, Gary Farmer, Billy Bob Thornton, Iggy Pop, Crispin Glover, John Hurt, Michael Wincott, Lance Henriksen, Gabriel Byrne, Mili Avital, and Robert Mitchum (in his final film role), this “Psychedelic Western” (as Jarmusch called it) is set in the second half of the 19th century and filmed entirely in monochrome.
Depp plays a young man named William Blake who goes on a physical and spiritual journey as he travels the extreme western frontiers of America. After he gets badly wounded with a bullet lodged in his chest, he meets a Native American man known as “Nobody” who tries to help him dislodge the bullet. Unfortunately, it is too close to Blake’s heart and Nobody tells him that he is basically a walking dead man.
Watch the original trailer below:
“Dead Man Official Trailer #1 – (1995) HD” by Movieclips
Considered by many to be a premier postmodern Western, Dead Man is generally regarded as being very considerate of the individual differences between Native American tribes and well researched in Native American culture.
Dead Man was filmed in many places throughout the U.S. including Nevada. In Nevada, it was shot at the Virginia & Truckee Railroad (aka V&T Railroad) in Virginia City.
Fun Fact: When Johnny Depp stayed at the Mackay Mansion in Virginia City while filming ‘Dead Man,’ a little girl dressed in all-white paid him a visit. Learn more about this haunted Nevada property!