Accompanied by Borracho, a reluctant accomplice, Strindler goes from one local dignitary to the next, including Mayor Avery, Sheriff Purdy and Oso, the head of the mine, negotiating for the dead souls. His strange requests and shifting stories unsettle the town, and The Kid, a hot-headed young gunman, becomes suspicious of the old man's motives and challenges him to a duel. Adapted from Nikolai Gogol's classic novel, the story becomes an allegory about immigration, bureaucracy and the value placed on human lives, told with a mixture of deadpan comedy, mystery and drama, against a soundtrack of spoken word and old western ballads. Alex Cox, director of Repo Man and Walker, writes, directs and stars in this mannered, offbeat western, which has been described as one of his most accomplished films. Cox gives a charismatic performance as Strindler, with fine support from Zander Schloss, Ted Falagan and Shayn Herndon. The deliberately stylised approach will not suit everyone, but the humour, mystery and sharply observed political commentary make it rewarding.