Now here’s a gem for those who like a thriller filled with good acting and a wild storyline. Now on Blu-ray/DVD it’s called Bone Tomahawk a dark western horror flick that will make your day if you like the genre. It may be a little long, but it sure has a big payoff with action throughout and a twisted ending. It’s not your usual horse opera and that’s a good thing. This review comes with a warning: There’s a very ghastly scene in the finale that looks so real it may make you squirm and turn your tummy.
It’s the 1890’s and the story opens in the town of Bright Hope nestled in the plains near a range of mountains. Not much goes on for Sheriff Franklin Hunt (Kurt Russell) and the people are thankful for that. On this one day however, Purvis (David Arquette) an outsider has come to town and is suspected of wrong doing. Put in the slammer after being shot in the leg trying to resist, Hunt calls in Samantha O’Dwyer a local doctor to attend to his wound.
That evening a strange screeching noise can be heard in the town and cannibalistic Indians called Troglodytes abduct Samantha, Purvis and Deputy Nick (Evan Jonigkeit). Sheriff Hunt calls for a posse made up of back-up Deputy Chicory (Richard Jenkins), Samantha’s husband Arthur (Patrick Wilson) who recently broke his leg and gunslinger John Brooder (Matthew Fox). The four ride out to face the most dangerous Indians in an attempt to retrieve the kidnapped townspeople.
The film plays out like a road movie with the posse traveling long distance to free the three victims. Along the way we are entertained with a lot of old west terms, banter and attacks by Mexican thieves. Director and writer S. Craig Zahler makes it a trecherous ride, one that takes on a very dark aura as they go deeper into the mountain range. He throws in a few twists and some very disturbing scenes as the men face the long ride and adversaries along the way before meeting the ugly Troglodytes. He’s a good storyteller keeping his film compelling and involving at every turn.
The ensemble cast is very good each making their characters exciting and engaging. Having seen The Hateful Eight, a western by Quinton Tarantino at a screening in early December, I was stunned to see the equally good performance by Kurt Russell here as he pulled off in that spaghetti western. I loved his roles in the two films and if you get the opportunity to see each, you should come away entertained by both.
Fox, Jenkins and Wilson are excellent support actors in this harsh and combative story that pits the posse against each other and the dangerous Indians. Fox’s gunslinger and Jenkins backup deputy roles are constantly at odds with each other providing the comic relief to the story. While Brooder has an arrogant standoff personality, Chicory always picking on him for answers to his killing past. It makes the long trek they have to take more enjoyable and the ending sincere. Wilson pulls off the role as the determined husband that must get to his wife even though he’s dragging a broken leg across scorched earth and a jagged rock landscape.
BONUS FEATURES
The disc has several bonus features including;
“The Making of Bone Tomahawk” features the actors and director who talk about their characters and the work involved in making it.
“Deleted Scene” deleting this scene was a VERY good idea as it’s just too hokey.
“Fantastic Fest Q & A with Cast and Director” The director and some of the cast members take questions about the film from a screening audience.
Bone Tomahawk has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains extreme violence, gore, cannibalism, sex, nudity, carnage, drug use and language. I hope I didn’t leave anything out.
FINAL ANALYSIS: For those that like action and terror this should be on your most wanted list. (B)
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, Lili Simmons, Richard Jenkins, David Arquette, Sid Haig
Director and writer: S. Craig Zahler
MPAA Rating: Not Rated, contains extreme violence, sex, nudity, drug use, gore, cannibalism
Genre: Westerns, Action / Adventure, Thriller, Horror, Drama, Cannibalism
Running Time: 2 hrs. 12 min.
Original Theatrical Release Date: October 23, 2015
Video Release Date: December 29, 2015
Language: English
Reviewed Format: DVD (also available in Blu-ray)
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Aspect Ratio 2.40:1 Widescreen
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Number of Discs: 1 Disc
Distributed by: RLJ Entertainment
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
