Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? If you like Westerns.
Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? OK.
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 133 minutes (~2.25 hours)
“Bone Tomahawk” is a Western with elements of horror in it. It follows the quest of four men to rescue a kidnapped woman from a tribe of cannibalistic Red Indians. It stars Kurt Russell (Sheriff Franklin Hunt), Patrick Wilson (Arthur O’Dwyer), Matthew Fox (John Brooder), Richard Jenkins (Chicory), and Lili Simmons (Samantha O’Dwyer). It is rated R-21.
“Bone Tomahawk” truly deserves its R-21 rating for its depiction of gore and violence, especially when it comes to the the savage Native Americans who serve as the antagonists of the film. Westerns hit our shores rarely, and to have one that is a mixed genre (horror and Western) is truly unique. But if you’re in the mood to see just how depraved and carnal human beings can be, then the villains of the film will definitely pique your interest.
Highlights
Strong opening and closing
The bulk of the conflict with the Native American tribe comes at the beginning and ending of the film, and that’s where the movie impacts you the most. The horror comes from the inhumanity of the antagonists, who seem like people but behave like animals. They cannot be reasoned with, and they are no limits to their violence. The grisly fates of some the characters drive home the sheer brutality of the Native American tribes, leaving terrifying images that will haunt you long after you leave the cinema.
Samantha O’Dwyer is a strong female character
Even though she ends up being the kidnap victim, Samantha still manages to retain her strength and independence. It’s refreshing to see a powerful woman amidst a male-dominated setting, and it’s clear that she can hold her own as much as any man. It also helps that she has some of the best lines in the film. That’s not to say that Samantha has no femininity though. On the contrary, her tenderness to her husband showcases her gentle femininity, striking a good balance between strength and kindness.
Chicory is hilarious
Chicory plays the doddering old man perfectly, with a twist — he’s actually pretty competent. But what makes him one of the highlights of the movie is how he keeps on talking and talking and talking. Even Sheriff Franklin tells him to “close that aperture” at one point. It’s this guileless nature that makes Chicory pretty entertaining, and helps to lighten an otherwise overly serious mood.
Letdowns
The journey is tiresome and pointless
While the movie starts and finishes strong, the middle portion is a mess of dirty, boring tedium. The four characters go on a quest to save the girl, but we see every single aching moment of their journey to the hideout of the Native Americans. There’s so much whining and artificial conflict that serves no purpose, and it bloats the film to a very unwieldy length. If the journey were trimmed by two thirds, it would have vastly improved the pacing.
Arthur O’Dwyer is frustratingly stupid
The movie opens with Arthur already on crutches, having been injured a few months ago. Yet he barges his way into the quest, and forces himself along on the journey to save his wife. Of course, his presence slows down the other characters and results in even more unnecessary conflict. His complete lack of self-awareness and utter stupidity are astounding, to say the least.
“Bone Tomahawk” has surprisingly memorable characters and horrific scenes. It goes on for far too long though, and could have benefitted from more editing.
“Bone Tomahak” opens in cinemas 10 December, 2015 (Thursday).
Leave a Reply