“A Prayer for the Dying” is not an easy film to watch. An adaptation of a 1999 book by author Stewart O’Nan, the story reaches plenty of bleakness as it follows the spread of sickness in a small Wisconsin town during a post-Civil War time. As the title suggests, there’s little hope for the characters involved in this quest for survival, with writer/director Dara Van Dusen taking her time detailing suffering and confusion as weeks pass. It’s not a feature for casual viewing, but for more adventurous viewers who appreciate darkness, “A Prayer for the Dying” certainly has its cinematic merits, including artful visual choices and strong performances from a cast asked to inhabit troubled people. Dramatically, it’s not the most fulfilling meal, but Van Dusen delivers an interesting picture that lingers on doom, but also tries to inspect purpose and authority in the midst of chaos. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com
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