Product Description

DMX (Cradle 2 the Grave, Exit Wounds) will blow you away as King David, a cunning and charismatic leader of the streets who returns to his home turf seeking redemption... but finds only brutal retribution. Co-starring David Arquette (Scream 1, 2 & 3) as an aspiring reporter, seduced by a culture of drugs and violence, NEVER DIE ALONE is a ?gritty, intense and unforgettable urban tale? (Wireless Magazine) of ruthless gangsters and cold-blooded revenge.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43922 in DVD
• Brand: ARQUETTE,DAVID
• Released on: 2004-07-13
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, Spanish
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, French
• Dubbed in: Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 88 minutes

Amazon.com
There's nothing like a violent, foul-mouthed, drug-laden, misogynistic, post-adolescent gangsta fantasy to teach you (heh heh) that crime doesn't pay. Whassup with Never Die Alone, bro? Here's a pulp-driven movie that wants it both ways, glorifying virtually every negative black-male stereotype in the book (illiterates with absentee parents, gold-toothed pimps, hooded gangstas, bling-bling drug dealers, thugs, and assorted hip-hop wannabes) while presenting a gritty neo-noir crime story of an ill-fated heroin dealer and woman-hater (rapper-turned-bad-actor DMX) who seeks redemption but has too much bad karma to survive. Based on the influential 1974 novel by Donald Goines and directed with plenty of dark-city style by Ernest R. Dickerson, this hard-hitting but woefully trashy crime thriller is rather ambitious in its narrative structure, weaving past and present in telling a doomed man's tale. David Arquette brings urgent desperation to his role as a seedy writer whose inner-city research turns into a violent nightmare, and Michael Ealy is equally good as a vengeful gangsta with blood ties to DMX's character. But what's the real lesson here? In a movie with no moral compass, it's no wonder everyone's spinning off in all the wrong directions. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

"We reap what we sow..."
"Never Die Alone" is a dark and bleak crime drama/noir that never makes any apologies for its brutality or harshness. Definitely not something for people with weak stomachs, the movie is a great example of showing you what goes around comes around, even if you decide it's time to change your life. As harsh as the movie can be, I think it was very well done and took some really good risks. This is definitely something that doesn't come out of typical Hollywood.

DMX plays King David, a notorious drug dealer who has a solid rep and one hell of a dark past. He decides it's time to make things right and hopefully find some sort of redemption. Well, things don't work out like that as his past mistakes finally catch up to him with unrelenting results. A would-be reporter gets caught in the middle of the crossfire and ends up learning about David's horrible past through his own cassette tapes that he had made. What is revealed to him is a grim story about drugs and violence in unspeakable proportions.

I was actually expecting the movie to be nothing but non-stop "street violence," but it ended up being a lot more clever than that. There's an actual storyline to it that works, along with some great performances from the cast. Even though this isn't a perfect movie, I think it is a very good one. DMX is absolutely chilling and unforgiving in his role of "King David." So unforgiving that he even admits in a making-of featurette on the DVD that he had a hard time with some of the things his character does in the film. You can tell that he was determined to become the character, as he does a great job of selling it. David Arquette and Michael Ealy also give terrific performances and should not be forgotten.

The DVD doesn't have a whole lot to offer, but there are some extras included. You have the option of either watching the widescreen or fullscreen version of the movie. Extras included are commentary, a making-of-featurette, trailers and deleted scenes. While it doesn't offer a whole ton of extras, there are a couple that you can check out.

It goes without saying that the movie is dark and brutal. If you're looking for a happy-go-lucky type of movie, then this is something you will not want to even take a chance on. As harsh as this movie can be, I don't think it's gratuitous, which was something I was expecting it to be. Still, this is something that isn't for everybody. I think that "Never Die Alone" is a well done movie with some unforgettable performances. A real urban-gangster picture that isn't all fluff and empty calories. It actually has something to say. -Michael Crane

Excellent acting and a good story.
I was impressed by the quality of the acting, even in small secondary characters, such as Ella (played by beautiful young actress, Drew Sidora). All performances were convincing, gritty and professional.

If Drew Sidora manages her career the right way, we may see a lot more of her acting talents in the future. She reminds me of Drea De Matteo (of "The Sopranos" fame)perhaps for the way she was made up.

The story is interesting, adding new twists to old schemes. It is somehow a little bit difuse, but that is because it mixes with two other plots.

The movie is worth buying and I am glad I did. I will see it many more times.

Reagan-Gomez Preston was Fab and This Movie Was A+
I admit I am not a big fan of DMX movies, but this movie is truly excellent. The acting was great. DMX shined as King David because of his grimey rap lyrics he was very believable as the dirty shady character. The character that impressed me the most was the acting by Reagan Gomez-Preston. She has played such goody-goody roles in the past I never imagined that she could so convincingly play a dramatic role but she was a scene stealer. Michael Ealy and David Arquette were great too, as was the storyline. It looks like the movie was shot on film and didn't make the transition to DVD that great, it seemed grainy and dark in parts but I loved this movie, although it was a bit violent for my taste.