It’s tough to be surprised by a movie these days. With trailers giving away half of the plot, recycled storylines, and dreaded spoilers everywhere, it’s hard to go into a movie and have no clue what it’s about, let alone be able to leave one feeling genuinely surprised. You can have it both ways with the overlooked but excellent Bone Tomahawk, available now on Amazon Instant Video.
The less you know going into the movie, the better. Here are the basics: Set in the 1890s, Bone Tomahawk is the directorial debut of S. Craig Zahler, who also wrote the film. The great cast includes Kurt Russell (who seems to be on a western kick after also starring in Tarantino’s Hateful Eight) along with Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox and Richard Jenkins. All four have done great work in the past, and this movie is no different. Russell plays “Sheriff Franklin Hunt” alongside his deputy “Chicory,” played by an extremely convincing Jenkins. After a cattle foreman’s wife gets kidnapped by a truly terrifying clan of cave dwellers, Hunt and Chicory round up a rescue party that includes Fox’s mysterious “John Brooder” and the foreman himself, played by the always solid Patrick Wilson.
While the main cast is fantastic, especially Fox and Jenkins, the best element of the film is definitely Zahler’s writing. The first act builds up both its characters and tension in a very natural and skillful way. The characters are all at the very least interesting, so when they set out on their rescue mission the stakes are higher than normal because you are genuinely invested in them. This is important as the shift in tone for the second half may not be to everyone’s liking. The film takes an extremely dark turn into a more brutal, horrific genre. Those who want to stay on the ride, though, are treated to a suspenseful and gripping finale.
In general, the movie is very well made. Zahler’s use of long, wide shots allows the action to unfold in a very natural way while also keeping the viewer captivated the whole time. While all the shots look great and allow a sense of letting the story breath, the film can seem a little long with it’s runtime of over two hours. The clever dialogue somewhat weans out after the dark shift in tone, but the writing is still solid enough so that even the more squeamish people can hang around. Be warned though: some of the scenes in the second half are pretty brutal as more emphasis is put on the horror aspect. Whether it’s your cup of tea or not, Bone Tomahawk will surprise you.
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