#tombestone

Bone Tomahawk (2015)  -  western/horror

As a giant fan of the masterpiece ‘Tombstone’,  I have to say that Kurt Russell reprising the role of a vigilant and wise lawman in a movie was a treat.  Even if he wasn’t Wyatt Earp, it still satisfies that craving you have to see your favorite characters return in sequels.  

As a giant fan of horror, suspense, and westerns, viewing this film witnessed me to one of the most original movies Ive seen in a very long time, using all three genres, and covered some serious ground (not only in the plot, because the characters literally journeyed through the desert, bad pun). 

Bone Tomahawk is a western/horror directed by S Craig Zahler, whom I have never heard of before. After a little research, I found that this movie is actually his biggest claim to fame so far - and It is a treasure of an under-the-radar film.

This movie is kept alive and on fire with it’s excellent and prime casting choices, a wonderfully brilliant script, sharp wit, and top notch acting.

The film stars, as aforementioned, Kurt Russell, legendary in this type of character role.  It also stars Patrick Wilson (Insidious), Richard Jenkins (Step Brothers, Jack Reacher), Sid Haig (Devil’s Rejects), Matthew Fox (Lost), and David Arquette (Eight Legged Freaks, Never Been Kissed).

I am most impressed with Richard Jenkins.  I have praised Johnny Depp, Jared Leto, and Gary Oldman in the past for their ability to make you not even realize you were watching them due to their insane abilities to become their characters.  I was well over a third into the film before I realized who Jenkins was.  His acting is on point, and his character - not an easy one to pull off.  I have never seen this level of talent from most actors, and was very surprised that Richard Jenkins did.  Perhaps he is one of our most underrated actors in Hollywood, and needs to see more roles like this to showcase himself.

Without being redundant on Kurt Russell’s born-to-play character, I must say the casting choices could not have been more perfect, making this film a character driven gem.  Even if you dropped this group of men in the same roles with an entirely different plot or genre, you could write them in any situation and still have a well-made movie.  The chemistry is just so well captured.  

So, take the award deserving acting, and throw it in a brutal, nerve wrenching, and horror aimed movie, and you have a hybrid that works amazingly!  Splatter horrors are one thing, but when you spend well over three quarters of this movie building a connection with these desperate cowboys, it makes the last quarter (in which the violent horror amplifies) all the more brutal. You not only get the gore, but you feel the pain of the characters emotionally.  

The film opens with Sid Haig and David Arquette as thieves that encounter the group of antagonists (I will remain vague as to avoid spoilers).  Sid Haig, the distinct face in The Devil’s Rejects, makes for a wonderful way to start the film.  With his relatability (yes, I know that is not a word) to his other film types, he really sets the mood for this film through the gates. Although not receiving much screen time, this duo has such chemistry, they could be characters I would like to see in their own movie. (Again, great casting).

The script is well written, no Hollywood garbage here.  It’s comparable to the verbal jousting in ‘True Grit’ with its intellect and wonderful trades.  The wit and mild humor kept me hooked as well. 

The horror and gore factor is almost like last minute, it found its way from modern day films such as ‘The Hills Have Eyes’ or ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ remakes, and accidentally showed up in a trail western, which pushed the brutality of what the characters had to face, a true terror.  Gut wrenching.

These level films are what restores my faith in modern film.  It delivers so strongly on so many levels that I can't help but not love it.  A definite addition to my collection.

And just to add icing to the cake, the poster art isn't a pile of photoshopped garbage, but instead, well laid out, and even indicative of thousands of classic westerns from the spaghetti era. Kudos to following up a great film with well done cover art.