BONE TOMAHAWK is a tale of frontier horror, one of the finest I've ever seen. Director S. Craig Zahler manages to capture both a true and classic western esthetic in his camerawork, pacing, and characterizations of the protagonists. The film also contains an ever present tone true frontier terror. What the main characters face in this film is beyond any horror or brutality they could have ever imagined. I like westerns. And in case you didn't know I like horror films. Bone Tomahawk blends the two genres in a natural way. However, the moment you think you know what you're in for the film takes a drastic turn and leaves you speechless. Westerns have always been violent. But rarely this violent.
Bone Tomahawk is the new Cannibal Holocaust.
THE PLOT
Somewhere in the late 1800's/early 1900's two murderers stumble across the cave-dwelling of a small tribe of cannibals. Suddenly they are attacked and only one makes it out alive. He flees to a small frontier town called Bright Hope where he is quickly spotted by the sheriff. The murderer is placed in jail for the night. That night the cannibals lay siege to the jail, taking the murderer and everyone else present with them. The sheriff and three others from Bright Hope set out on a rescue mission, tracking the hostiles to their lair. What they find is beyond their worst nightmares.
THE GOOD
The Cast. What initially attracted me to the film was that it starred Kurt Russell. I actually discovered this film while searching the internet for information on The Hateful Eight. Kurt Russell is fantastic in this film and his costars are just as good if not more so. Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, and Richard Jenkins fill out the lead four characters with David Arquette, Sid Haig, and a cameo by James Tolkan numbering among the names I was surprised to see. Lili Simmons and Evan Jonigkeit play the captives in need of rescuing. The acting all around is fantastic, enhancing the already well written script. Matthew Fox and Richard Jenkins provide the standout performances.
The Third Act. The film for the most part follows an authentic western path in the vein of THE SEARCHERS. Had this movie been made forty or fifty years ago it would fit alongside the films produced at those times. Where the movie goes beyond all others however is in the third act. The onscreen violence climbs to shocking levels evoking thoughts of Cannibal Holocaust and other such brutally violent films. One particularly violent scene haunted me for days afterward. And it is in this third act that Bone Tomahawk treads into horror film territory.
THE BAD
The Pacing. Depending on your personal tastes the slow pacing of this film may make or break it for you. The movie clocks in at over two hours, much of which is our protagonists tracking the hostiles to their lair. During this slower period of the film what we are shown is wonderful character development. This film succeeds in creating fully developed and three dimensional characters. The pacing also provides an authentic and classic western film experience. As a result however this film may not be accessible to all audiences. I for one don't see this aspect as a fault but rather a strength. The storytelling of the film doesn't suffer at the expense of pursuing the almighty dollar like it could've.
THE VERDICT
Not only is Bone Tomahawk a true western it also manages to tap into true frontier horror in a way so few have. Due to an abundance of recognizable actors, brilliant performances, and a well written script, the film is elevated to truly remarkable heights. The credibility of the film is well established through the first two acts and the third act pushes the film into shocking new territory. Western Horror is rare. Good western horror is even harder to come by. Bone Tomahawk sets a new standard. This is the Kurt Russell film I was hoping to get from The Hateful Eight. Hats off to the director.
Overall Ranking: 8 out of 10
Nude-O-Meter: 3 out of 10
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