Dead Birds is a 2004 American Western horror film directed by Alex Turner, and starring Henry Thomas, Nicki Aycox, Isaiah Washington, Patrick Fugit, and Michael Shannon.

The film was given a limited re-release on February 5, 2010, at the NuArt Theatre in Los Angeles; and received mixed reviews from critics.

However, this simply allowed evil spirits to take over his victims, and these remain in the house, attacking all who dare enter.

William refuses to leave without the gold and is accompanied by Annabelle back into the house to find Sam's body missing.

When William and Annabelle go into the fields as well, they find Clyde, now dead and possessed by one of the spirits, crucified like a scarecrow with his eyes and mouth sewn shut.

[3] Jon Condit of Dread Central said of the film, "And wouldn't ya know it, this modestly budgeted period piece from newcomer Alex Turner dishes on the history (we're in the late-1800s for this one) as well as some heavy gore and otherworldly Lovecraftian heebie-jeebies for a mostly satisfying feast.

The only other real issue is that while the ending is good conceptually, it could be considered sort of anticlimactic visually.

Still, this film is worth the goose bumps it delivers throughout due to stylish camera work and a visually frightening presentation.

"[6] Brian McKay from eFilmCritic.com gave the film 4/5 stars, writing, "Dead Birds is the kind of horror film that straddles the line between mediocrity and quality, ultimately landing on the "quality" side thanks to several elements that help to elevate it above its standard horror trappings.

When you're making a basic haunted house tale, it's important to have a good cast and some prime real estate to shoot it on, two elements that are abundantly present here.

[8] Robert Koehler from Variety gave the film a negative review, criticizing the film's lack of scares, overly extended scenes, and repetitive visual effects, writing, "[the] Concept of transplanting horror genre tropes into the Civil War's bloody soil is about as inspired as the dull Dead Birds ever gets.