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Two types of movies that I always love are Horror movies And Westerners. However, for some reason, it is rare to find success films Which combines the two categories. When I find one that blends the two feelings well, I tend to shout it from the rooftops. That’s what I’m about to do.
A decade ago, one of the best Western horror films I’ve ever seen debuted. Ten years later, the film is still on my list of favorite films – not just because it’s unsettling and gory, but because of its strong script and epic cast.
The film I’m talking about is a smart, slow-burning cowboy drama driven by a talented cast and a shocking third act. I’m talking about the bone tomahawk. The good news is that it’s available to stream for free on Tubi now.
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Bone Tomahawk follows four men as they venture into the desert to rescue some townspeople who have been kidnapped after a surprise attack. This is no ordinary rescue mission, though. It’s revealed early in the film that a group of savage cave-dwelling (and possibly supernatural) cannibals are the guilty party. Defeating them will not be easy.
To that point, the final confrontation between the men and these attackers is one of the most violent and brutal displays I have ever seen in a Western.
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Kurt Russell stars as Sheriff Hunt alongside Richard Jenkins, who plays Deputy Chicory, in the western horror film Bone Tomahawk.
The first and perhaps biggest attraction here is the film’s stellar cast. Kurt Russell leads the charge as Sheriff Franklin Hunt, along with Patrick Wilson as Arthur O’Dwyer, Richard Jenkins (Oscar-nominated actor for The Shape of Water) as Deputy Chicory, and Lost alum Matthew Fox as John Broder. Supporting players include Lily Simmons, Zane McClarnon, David Arquette, horror icon Sid Haig, Fred Malamed, Michael Barry, and Sean Young.
Tombstone is one of my favorite Westerns, and seeing Russell back on the horse, so to speak, to helm another Western (The Hateful Eight, which he also starred in, hit theaters that same year) is a reason in itself to see this movie. As great as Sheriff Hunt is, the film offers enough scenery to chew for Wilson, Jenkins, and Foxx – with each actor giving nuanced performances that keep things grounded, even as the stakes steadily rise.
An extra tip of the hat should be given to Fox, who is an enigmatic character. Brooder isn’t a likable character, but his arrogance doesn’t define who this guy is either. His quest to hunt down these attackers stems from a deep personal trauma that earns him equal amounts of public contempt and sympathy. Without him, the crew probably wouldn’t have gotten as far as they did.
Matthew Fox plays gunman John Broder in the western horror film Bone Tomahawk.
This is S.’s directorial debut. Craig Zahler. He’s the director behind the monster festival hits Dragged Across Concrete and Brawl in Cell Block 99, so if you’re familiar with those films at all, you won’t be surprised by the bloodshed in the final act. Zahler also wrote the film, which is noteworthy, considering how sharp the dialogue is. These are perhaps the key details that brought this epic actor to the project.
Hunt and his men spend most of the film searching, not unlike John Wayne and his Texas Rangers were in John Ford’s cinematic classic The Searchers. This western is sure to be loved by parents across the country; Ford’s work has inspired filmmakers from Spielberg to Scorsese and Kurosawa.
The skull is an ominous warning to intruders in the Western horror film Bone Tomahawk.
Ford’s films had a certain pace that has almost disappeared from modern entertainment. His films took their time, following characters through the hero’s slow journey. This allowed the world of the story to sit in silence, allowing the viewer to capture the dusty horizon as if it were a photograph or painting come to life.
Like Jim Jarmusch’s Dead Man, which benefited from a similar narrative sensibility, Zahler gives the story, characters, and surrounding world ample room to breathe, drawing the viewer in even further. There’s no musical score here, and the cinematography is smooth and direct. Rather than filling the film with distracting camera maneuvers, Zahler’s debut feels almost like a play, giving the whole thing a realistic, primal feel.
On the surface, Bone Tomahawk is a revenge story. However, underneath, the film explores humanity at a crossroads, following civilized men as they grapple with the brutal, untamed elements on the other side of the desert.
Once the men meet the villains, referred to earlier in the film as the Troglodytes, the film moves from homage to the Old West into horror territory. Practical effects in the film’s third act lead to a series of hard-to-watch violence on par with Eli Roth’s cannibal opus, The Green Inferno. I wouldn’t call this torture porn. Even though things are deep, gory and in your face, they are still very relevant to the story being told.
I’ve read criticism online about Bone Tomahawk’s depiction of Native Americans, specifically in relation to cave dwellers. I’m not here to oppose this idea. However, it should be noted that the film is set in an era where prejudice towards anyone who was not white or male was the norm. It can also be said that this tribe of powerful cannibals is not actually Native Americans at all. These are the sentiments that Professor Zane McClarnon spoke of as a warning to Hunt and his crew.
Patrick Wilson, Richard Jenkins and Kurt Russell as Arthur O’Dwyer, Deputy Chicory and Sheriff Hunt in the western horror film Bone Tomahawk.
If I had a complaint about the movie, it would be its abrupt ending. The emotional risks pay off, and a lot of blood is spilled. However, I have to wonder if there was ever a plan to do a sequel, where the story ends in an open-ended way. A number of characters’ stories ended as they walked off into the sunset, and I personally would like to see this story continued in some way.
The tomahawk bone is not for everyone. However, if you’re a dad like me who longs for some quiet time away from the family to enjoy some gruesome goodies, may I suggest delving into this action western horror Ultraviolet? Movies like this don’t come around often. You will not be disappointed.
