Bone Tomahawk - movie review

Bone Tomahawk

Plot: Four men set out in the Wild West to rescue a group of captives from cannibalistic cave dwellers.
Cast: Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox
Director: S. Craig Zahler
Rating: 18
Runtime: 2hrs 12 mins
Release Date: Friday 19th February 2016

Blending the Western genre with horror elements is not a common combination. It's like dipping a chocolate mini roll into brown sauce. Sounds messy as well as horrible. Bone Tomahawk is the unique exception. Instead of the mini roll analogy, this film is like mixing mashed potato with baked beans. It's a unique film that will warp and challenge what we perceive a Western to usually be.

After The Hateful Eight and now this, we could be witnessing the resurgence of Kurt Russell. And with him now being cast in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2, long may his reign continue. Russell is no stranger to playing a cowboy especially from his role as Wyatt Earp in Tombstone. But as Russell has aged, he has adapted in some respects to be an even more convincing Western figure. He has the moustache, the beard, the mutton chops, the accent as well as the gruffness that a Sheriff would possess. From his performance as Sheriff Hunt, Russell accurately embodies what is intended of him and to a joyous outcome. Tagging along with Russell on his expedition are; Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox and Richard Jenkins. Fox gives a performance that is so incredibly rich and full of character, that you end up forming a connection with his role who initially, was not the most likeable. Some could say that a clear distinction is to be made between Fox's depiction of Brooder and Val Kilmer's portrayal of Doc Holliday. This is a phenomenal accomplishment due to both actors giving a heartfelt and fun representation of unruly and troublesome characters. Wilson seems to give a faithful presentation of a loyal and devoted man on the Western Front. He spends the totality of the film with his leg bandaged limping his way across the harsh terrain. The sheer physical strain that Wilson puts himself through is apparent and makes for a glad viewing experience. Jenkins' portrayal of Deputy Sheriff Chicory was the only performance that seemed out of place. I am by no means intending to criticise Jenkins' acting ability but the comedic nature of his character did not fit with the general tone of the movie.

One thing that I must emphasise with Bone Tomahawk is that it is not your typical Western film. It doesn't match the stylings of Django Unchained nor The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. Do not go into this feature expecting saloon fights or gun-slinging action. This is a film that takes its time and gradually progresses the story over its two hour runtime so we can become more enriched into the characters included. The majority of the film focuses on our four protagonists completing their journey to save Patrick Wilson's wife from a group of barbaric cannibals. A few gunshots are fired but nothing too drastic. Alternatively, the infatuating dialogue takes over and drives this film forward. The slow moving plot and gradual pace can be considered a negative however. With over a two hour runtime, moments can be overly drawn-out and ultimately not necessary to the development of the film. As far as the third act is concerned, I shall cover that in due course but the shift in tone can be very extreme and unprecedented for many.

To say that this is a violent film is a tremendous understatement. From the opening shot we bare witness to a throat being savagely slit. In that instant, I knew exactly what this film was attempting to achieve. The gore and violence will easily be too much for some but in my opinion, it is directed in a tasteful yet horrifying way. Congratulations must be awarded to director Zahler with this being his directorial debut. The unflinching and relentless brutality of this film is astonishing and I am blown away with what the cast and crew were able to achieve. Now, this film has garnered some publicity for a certain sequence that takes place within a cave. I will not spoil it for those who have not seen this film but I can easily say that it is one of the most stomach churning acts of cinema that I have witnessed. Not to say it isn't effective, but my God is it terrifying. My favourite aspect of this film was the use of sound. There are moments where the intense violence isn't shown on screen but instead, the audience are treated to vivid and excruciating crisp and clear sounds that make it all the more painful.

For what was made on a miniscule budget, Bone Tomahawk is a prime example of great storytelling. The performances are fun and lively. The violence makes for a great change to old genre. Unfortunately, the inconsistent pacing halts this movie from achieving the title of 'masterpiece'. But that by no means denatures the greatness of this film as a whole.

My Verdict: 7.5/10

What did you think of Bone Tomahawk? Post your comments below.

If you like what you've seen here, don't forget to share this post, comment below and check out my other reviews. Thanks for reading!