Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. You don't need to sell me on a movie that can be described as “Kurt Russell fights cannibals in the old west.” I imagine that's enough for you, too, but let me try to paint you a more detailed picture of what to expect from Bone Tomahawk.
Yes, the movie has cannibals in it and yes they are freaky and fucked up, but the movie's way more of a western than a horror flick and truth be told that came as a very pleasant surprise. It's a men on a mission adventure story that has horror elements. It may come as no surprise then that it hit me dead center in my geek heart since that's exactly how you could describe Jaws.
You have a core group hunting down monster, so it's not much of a stretch. The monster in this case just happens to be an isolated Indian tribe that has no speech, is brutally violent and loves the hell out of eating human flesh.
But like the famous shark, their presence is felt more than seen for the vast majority of the film. Mostly it's a character study of four men who are hot on the trail of the evil Indian tribe that kidnapped a deputy and a girl. Yes, it's very much The Searchers in that respect and writer/director S. Craig Zahler very much embraces many familiar western tropes, but does so in a way that takes your expectations and twists them around on you.
The posse is comprised of Kurt Russell as Sheriff Hunt, Patrick Wilson as Arthur O'Dwyer (husband to the kidnapped girl), Matthew Fox as a slick Indian-killer named Brooder and Richard Jenkins as Chicory, which would be the Walter Brennan role in a John Wayne movie... the old coot who comes along on the trip.
They're all amazing in their respective parts, but Richard Jenkins steals the show. Chicory is Russell's “backup deputy,” a widower who might not be the smartest guy in the old west, but he is undoubtedly loyal. Jenkins really gives a nuanced, sympathetic performance here and proves to be the heart of the group.
Russell is as awesome as you'd think he'd be. It's the tough as nails, take no shit kinda part... you know, the Kurt Russell role. I think we should all just take a moment and bask in the glory that is his recent resurgence. Even with, like, three Kurt Russell movies coming out this year we're still about 20 less than what is ideal. I can't wait to see how much more he gives us in the coming years... I'm still pulling for a role in one of the new Star Wars movies! He was, afterall, a finalist for Han Solo. How great would he be as another old scoundrel buddy of Han's who pops up? I mean, right? Right?
Patrick Wilson's character has a one track mind. His wife has been taken and despite the fact that he has a broken leg he insists on joining the rescue party. This puts him firmly in the Chief Brody role. He's a more learned man and he's at a serious disadvantage in the wilderness compared to the rest of his party.
Matthew Fox's Brooder is kind of the Quint and Hooper character combined. He's a braggart who is well-known for his boasts for his high Indian kill count, but he can also play the part of a city boy with a sharp suit and charmed upbringing. He has a personal reason for his Indian bloodlust, but even he is out of his element with this particular tribe.
The film slowly builds up these characters while upping the tension the closer they get to their destination. This tribe is definitely not your typical “evil Indians.” They're much closer to movie monsters with self-mutilation craziness going on and a swift, silent brutality that'd make the most jaded horror fan cringe.
Since Zahler takes his time letting us get to know these guys (and giving them interesting conversations/challenges along the trail) you're really invested by the time they walk into the lion's den. The tonal shift from straight up western to a more genre-y finale might shake some people, but I loved the juxtaposition and felt like they worked. Afterall, the Western has always supported the more brutal stories (see any Sam Peckinpah western if you don't believe me).
I'm a big fan of this film and can't recommend it enough. Check it out when it hits at the end of this month!
-Eric Vespe
”Quint”
quint@aintitcool.com
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