Dead for a Dollar

This 2022 American western action film, directed by Walter Hill, is set in 1897 in the New Mexico Territory. Veteran bounty hunter Max Borlund (Christoph Waltz) is hired by wealthy businessman Martin Kidd (Hamish Linklater) to retrieve his wife, Rachel Kidd (Rachel Brosnahan), who he claims has been kidnapped by U.S. Army deserter Elijah Jones (Brandon Scott) and taken to Chihuahua, Mexico. Accompanied by Sergeant Alonzo Poe (Warren Burke), a friend of Jones, Max ventures into Mexico, where he encounters local outlaw Tiberio Vargas (Benjamin Bratt) and his longtime adversary Joe Cribbens (Willem Dafoe), whom he had previously sent to prison. As the story unfolds, Max discovers that Rachel was not kidnapped but fled from her abusive husband and is now in a relationship with Jones. Faced with a moral dilemma, Max must choose between completing his mission by returning Rachel against her will or allowing her to remain free, risking his own safety. The film delves into themes of honor, personal choice, and the consequences of violence, blending classic western elements with contemporary ethical questions. It premiered on September 6, 2022, at the Venice Film Festival and was released in the United States on September 30, 2022.