Dead in Tombstone

Dead in Tombstone

Year: 2013

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: English

Director: Roel Reiné

ActionDramaHorrorWesternFantasy

After being fatally shot while trying to free his half-brother from prison, outlaw Guerrero Hernandez makes a deal and returns from the dead seeking vengeance. He unleashes a fiery quest for retribution, determined to punish those responsible for his demise and liberate his sibling.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Dead in Tombstone yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Dead in Tombstone (2013) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Dead in Tombstone (2013), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

In the untamed frontier of the Wild West, a condemned man known as Red Cavanaugh is slated for hanging, and he speaks with chilling calm, declaring that every man at the gallows will die before sunrise. Moments later, the Blackwater gang—Baptiste, Darko, Ramos, Snake, and Washington—ride in, led by Red’s half-brother Guerrero. They slaughter the guards and set Red free, then vanish into the morning light. The next day, Red explains to Guerrero that Edendale, Colorado, holds a bank vault where gold ore is stored until a mining dispute can be settled. Guerrero agrees to steal the ore, but only if they keep deaths to a minimum.

The gang robs the bank and, on a bitter turn of fate, Red betrays Guerrero. With the deed to the mine in hand and a plan to seize the town, Red shoots Guerrero and, against Guerrero’s instructions, persuades the others to turn on him; one by one, they gun Guerrero down.

Crushed by his bloodied fate, Guerrero finds himself in a hellish afterlife. In Hell, he encounters Lucifer—the same figure he has dreamt of recently—who agrees to a dangerous bargain. Guerrero can return to Earth to kill his six betrayers, but only if he succeeds within 24 hours; Satan reminds him that only Guerrero can do this, and Hell’s fires will not burn brighter for anyone else. With a single vow sealed, Guerrero awakens one year after his death and makes his way back to a town that now bears his memory as Tombstone.

Back home, Ramos returns to his farm, only to witness two of his workers slain before confronting the stranger who appears to be mortal. Gathering his wits and his guns, Guerrero discovers that only he and Red can shoulder such feats, and when Ramos realizes who stands before him, he is killed. Guerrero fashions six pine coffins with Ramos placed in one, and the next morning Baptiste and Darko discover Ramos’s grave. A siege erupts at a nearby slaughterhouse; after a tense stand-off, Guerrero kills Baptiste, only to learn that he still bleeds like any man. Darko reveals to Red that a mysterious killer is picking off their enemies, and he dispatches Washington to the mine to ensure protection for their illicit profits.

The gang converges on the saloon where Guerrero is cornered, and a brutal firefight ensues. After subduing them, Guerrero spots Calathea, the widow of the former sheriff, poised to shoot Red, and he stops her—but he is crushed when Red’s horse tramples him as the town erupts in panic. He wakes to find Father Paul nearby, and he explains his strange return and the trials he’s endured. Calathea, moved by Guerrero’s plight and shown Darko’s corpse, agrees to help him, and the two set off toward the mine.

Inside the mine, Judah Clark, a town marshal, is revealed to be aiding Red to gain access to the gold. Judah’s betrayal becomes clear, and Red and his remaining men prepare for a final confrontation. Red and Calathea flee with Guerrero’s body, while Washington and Snake are left to deal with the vengeful vigilante. In a brutal exchange, Guerrero kills Snake with a direct shot to the eye, but is promptly shot down himself. Calathea is captured, and Lucifer returns Guerrero to life with one hour still on the clock.

As a mob closes in to kill Red, Red abducts Calathea and faces his brother in a final, fair duel that becomes a brutal hand-to-hand contest. Lucifer, watching from the shadows, cheats with seconds to spare, and Guerrero and Red finish their duel by force. Guerrero emerges victorious, but the moment passes just after the timer runs out.

Inside the church, Lucifer explains that Guerrero’s fate isn’t sealed by a simple win or loss. Instead, the demon compels Guerrero to keep killing outlaws to settle his debt to Hell. With Edendale finally out of danger, Guerrero rides off into the countryside, his next bounty already calling him toward the horizon, a lone hunter wandering the land in search of retribution and redemption.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 10:34

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Supernatural Vengeance Stories like Dead in Tombstone

Characters who make a dark pact with hellish forces to achieve their goals.If you enjoyed the hellish deal and demonic retribution in Dead in Tombstone, explore more movies where characters barter with dark forces. These films blend action, horror, and fantasy, featuring anti-heroes on a violent quest where the ultimate price of victory is their own damnation.

supernaturalvengefulhellishbrutaldamnationoppressiveviolentgrim

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a tragic hero who, after a profound betrayal or loss, enters a Faustian bargain with a supernatural entity. This grants them immense power for a limited time, driving a fast-paced, violent quest. The climax often reveals the hollowness of their victory, as they achieve their goal but are forever bound to a bleak, eternal fate.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a core narrative of a Faustian bargain, a high-intensity pace driven by a ticking clock, and a consistently dark, oppressive tone. They are united by themes of damnation, the heavy cost of revenge, and a morally ambiguous protagonist whose victory is ultimately a form of loss.

Brutal Western Revenge Films like Dead in Tombstone

A lone anti-hero embarks on a fast and violent quest for payback in the lawless West.Fans of the violent, fast-paced retribution in Dead in Tombstone will appreciate these similar Westerns. Discover movies featuring lone outlaws on a merciless quest for vengeance, filled with intense gunfights, gritty frontier settings, and stories where justice comes at a steep personal cost.

vengefulbrutalunforgivinggrittyaction-packedoppressivelawlessviolent

Narrative Summary

The plot is straightforward: a grievous wrong launches a protagonist on a linear path of vengeance. The story is a sequence of escalating, violent encounters as the hero hunts down those responsible. The journey is physically punishing and emotionally draining, leading to an ending where the mission is accomplished, but peace remains elusive, leaving the character hardened and hollow.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their high-intensity, fast-paced action and a dark, gritty tone. They share a core focus on the revenge plot archetype within a Western setting, emphasizing visceral violence, a grim mood, and a protagonist whose quest leaves them emotionally scarred, even in success.

Unlock the Full Story of Dead in Tombstone

Don't stop at just watching — explore Dead in Tombstone in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Dead in Tombstone is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Dead in Tombstone Timeline

Track the full timeline of Dead in Tombstone with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Dead in Tombstone Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Dead in Tombstone

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Dead in Tombstone. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Dead in Tombstone

Dead in Tombstone Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Dead in Tombstone that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Dead in Tombstone Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Dead in Tombstone

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Dead in Tombstone: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Dead in Tombstone