Released: October 2015
Director: S. Craig Zahler
Run Time: 132 Minutes
Not Rated
Distributor: RLJ Entertainment
Cast:
Kurt Russell: Sheriff Hunt
Patrick Wilson: Arthur
Matthew Fox: Brooder
Richard Jenkins: Chicory
Lili Simmons: Samantha
David Arquette: Purvis
Sid Haig: Buddy
The Western has been a favorite genre of mine for years. From the old Roy Rogers films to John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, the Western sometimes gives us a somewhat romantic glimpse into what life must have been like in the Old West. But over the past 40 years, the genre has kind of slowed down a little. Some people claim that the genre is dead. I STRONGLY disagree. Some of the best MODERN Westerns include movies like Silverado, Tombstone, and The Unforgiven. Recently we’ve seen some pretty solid entries like Seraphim Falls, Appaloosa, and the remake of 3:10 to Yuma. These are fantastic movies that showcase some of the best things that the genre has to offer. No, scratch that, some of the best that cinema in general has to offer. You’ve got incredible landscapes, wild and quirky characters, and character-driven stories that are both dramatic and exciting. But we’ve also seen some filmmakers try to combine genres like the Western and science fiction. The most recent example would be Cowboys And Aliens, which was a….mixed bag to say the least. But it’s not very often that somebody tries to combine Westerns and horror. Writer-Director S. Craig Zahler brings us a new Western starring Kurt Russell: Bone Tomahawk.
In the small town of Bright Hope, on the edge of the Western Frontier, a mysterious stranger is discovered burying some objects near a tree. After being confronted by Sheriff Hunt, the stranger, Purvis is shot and taken to jail. Sheriff Hunt calls on the local doctor, Samantha, to bandage up Purvis. During the night, a local stable boy is brutally butchered by a mysterious force. In the morning, Hunt is informed that not only is his prisoner missing, but the doctor and his deputy as well as several horses. Samantha’s crippled husband, Arthur, along with gunslinger Brooder and the back-up deputy, Chicory, the group sets off to find the abducted folks. As far as Westerns go, the story SEEMS pretty straightforward. It’s a fantastic story, but I’m not entirely sure that people looking for your typical Western are going to appreciate the extremely violent and brutal final 25 minutes of the film. It definitely heads off into left field in terms of tone, but it works because of the kind of story that Zahler wants to tell. Life in the Old West was not easy, and it’s portrayed that way in the film, although I’m sure the random bloodthirsty cannibal was just a rare occurrence.
For those expecting a Western like Tombstone, because Kurt Russell’s in it, look elsewhere. This is a very methodically paced film. It’s a slow-burner with some small acts of violence throughout. I will say, that when the violence hits, it’s brutal. But it’s nothing compared the last 25 minutes of the film. I won’t spoil it for you. The landscapes and the cinematography are second to none. You would not expect a small and independent film like Bone Tomahawk to look a big-budget picture. Zahler does an incredible job immersing you in the world using the landscapes. It’s not just the world itself, but also the characters that are absolutely fantastic. Kurt Russell was born to be in Westerns. He can carry a full beard and mustache like it’s nobody’s business and he’s a bad-ass sheriff to boot. His performance is fantastic. Patrick Wilson plays the cripple husband of Samantha, one of the abducted, and he just sells the whole deal. When this guy falls on his injured leg, you feel it with him. The character is determined and willing to do whatever it takes to rescue his wife. I’ve never really thought much of Matthew Fox before. I always thought he was kind of…bland. Not here. I could barely recognize him as the suave, yet egotistical gunslinger with a past of his own. The guy that steals the show is Richard Jenkins as Chicory. This character is the heart of the picture. He’s the one that questions the morality of some the actions that have taken place. The character is not the brightest tool in the shed, and sometimes he’s annoying, but other times he’s a wonderful character. He’s loyal and determined. I think Richard Jenkins deserves an Oscar for best supporting actor. He’s that good.
The strength of a good Western lies in its writing, and Bone Tomahawk is one of the strongest Westerns I’ve seen in years. It’s not just the story that’s good. The characters are very well-written. These are fully three-dimensional characters that have flaws, personality quirks, and history. We learn that Chicory was married at one point and was in the Civil War, which gives a pretty good timeline when the film takes place. Brooder has dark history with Native Americans, so his cavalier attitude and hatred towards them is understandable. Arthur is a guy who is trying to do the best he can for himself and his wife, but ends up making a mistake that could cost him his leg. Very rarely have I seen characters this fleshed out, in ANY movie.
This being a Western, you would expect their to be some gunfights. There is some minor action throughout the film, but they’re in very small spurts. But they are memorable and they are brutal. As I said before, the majority of Western fans could be jolted by the sudden turn in tone in the last 25 minutes, when the film goes into horror movie mode. It’s bloody, gory and unflinching. No CGI is used and the legendary artists at KNB Effects are not employed here. It’s still very convincing, especially when the cannibal Indians communicate by using this whistle thing that’s lodged in their necks. It all culminates in an extremely satisfying way.
The whole thing has a great epic feel to it, due it’s phenomenal cinematography and camera-work. Bone Tomahawk is the directorial debut of S. Craig Zahler, and if this film is ANY indication, he’s got a great future ahead of him. I’m genuinely excited for what he’s got planned next. Bone Tomahawk is one of the best Westerns I’ve seen in years, and certainly one of the finest horror movies ever made. The fact that it’s a well-executed combination of the two is nothing short of amazing. If there’s one minor nitpick I have with the movie is that it does kind of run a little too long, but the payoff is totally worth it. I’m giving this one a 9.5/10. Highly recommended for fans of Westerns who don’t mind a bit of gore with their gunfights.