Rent Bone Tomahawk (2015)

Thrilling and Fun Western with Surprises - Bone Tomahawk review by GI

The Western was once the mainstay of American cinema, the essential mythology of a young America, but then starting in the late 1960s and into the 70s and 80s the staples of the genre began to be redefined and key films revising the traditional frontier building of a nation were made. These began to de-mythologise the western and turn them into historical drama that questioned the usual cinematic take on the West. Bone Tomahawk is a film that sits within the traditional genre for the most part. It's essentially about a posse, heading out to rescue a kidnapped woman taken by savages or in other words a taming of the west scenario. But then it takes a most surprising turn and it will get you on the edge of your seat and possibly gasp with shock. Kurt Russell plays a town sheriff who accompanied by a dandy gunfighter (Matthew Fox), his ageing deputy (Richard Jenkins) and a fearful husband with a part healed broken leg (Patrick Wilson), set out to search and rescue the husband's wife and another young deputy who have been stolen away in the night by savages. Having to survive the harshness of the land and beset by outlaws along the way does nothing to prepare them for the final confrontation with the Indians. This is a film that goes off in a very surprising direction so you think you're watching one sort of film until it turns into another. It's great entertainment, thrilling, exciting, quite shocking and the cast are impeccable. Kurt Russell is one of my favourite actors, he is always a real treat. So even if westerns aren't usually your thing I urge you to give this one a try.

Revolting - Bone Tomahawk review by NJ

Well its a pretty good film in many ways but the gore is off the scale and does it really need the graphic detail except for shock value to generate headlines and clicks?

It was on my list but saw it elsewhere and sorry I did!

Basically, this is WRONG TURN with cannibal Red Indians - Bone Tomahawk review by PV

OK so this film is ludicrous, full of plot holes - but just don't think too hard about that.

Instead, enjoy the atmosphere, the gore, the great sound effects of the cannibal Indians (or native Americans, or whatever). No doubt some will object that these people are shown as cannibals BUT they should get over themselves. THIS IS FICTION not a documentary!

Silly and unrealistic, yes. And of course there has to be a pretty blonde-haired woman in distress to rescue - who remains amazingly unmolested by brutal cannibal Indians who otherwise seem to keen to imprison women and get them pregnant.

But as I said, don't think too hard or ask too many questions! It'll give you a headache.

Just enjoy it for the period gore fest that it is. And the costumes, acting and sound effects are fab - loved the Indian screaming calls, though couldn't quite see how they'd manage to conduct the surgical operations needed to insert their whistles. See, now I'm thinking too hard again! Try not to or you'll see more plot holes than in a Swiss cheese!

Like WRONG TURN with Red Indians. 3.5 stars

A Slow ride. - Bone Tomahawk review by PG

Having watched many  westerns  this has to be up there with the most depressing.  Acting wise - very good but a waste of talent. The plot line and action were found wanting.  It was very evident that it had a very low budget  and sadly not helped by a plodding saga. The most interesting feature was the sound of the horses hoofs and the clunking of the boots on the wooden floors. The savage ending was not unexpected and totally over the top which again highlights the fact  this film needed something to save it.  Unfortunately this ending was the wrong choice. Why it was ever  commissioned defies logic .  A film that would not be missed. I cannot agree with any star rating above 2.

excellent western even with plotholes - Bone Tomahawk review by AER

Excellent western with horror elements, this gifts fine roles to Kurt Russell (always dependable), Richard Jenkins in particular, evil Matthew Fox, and always boring Patrick Wilson. Some good folk get abducted by feral Native Americans / cannibals who live in a deep dark cave. Loved the character building and the slow burn pace. The violence is creative and effing horrible (gore hounds won't have minded the wait). S Craig Zahler is a fine director, with this, Brawl in Cell Block X, and DRAGGED ACROSS CONCRETE that's a 3 for 3 winning streak for me. Plus David Arquette steals the show in a supporting role. Also keep a beedy eye out for Sean Young, Michael Pare, and Sid Haig in tiny roles.

In answer to the so-called plothole about Patrick Wilson's rescue - he's says 'the back way'... and even turns off the trail rather than meets the cave/cliff head on. Remember Richard Jenkins saying about reaching somewhere via a perimeter!>?? as a foreshadow? Not a plothole, unless you can question PW's endurance.

One of my fave westerns in years.

Spoilers follow ... - Bone Tomahawk review by NP

Directed with leisurely assurance by S. Craig Zahler (who is also the writer), this very witty, slow-burning western/horror hybrid is compelling viewing, even when very little appears to be happening. The long, talky scenes in the first half of the film work well because the dialogue is very natural and often genuinely amusing, all played by an excellent cast. When anything horrific or brutal occurs, it does so very quickly with barely any lead-up. Blink and you’ll miss it. However, as the 132 minute story rolls on, these occurrences move increasingly centre-stage. Getting to that point can arduous at times, however, and things drag from time to time.

The locations, stunningly filmed, perfect that balance between beautiful and unforgiving terrain. It is this environment that plays host to some stomach-churning scenes, filmed completely without spectacle, and often without the comfort of incidental music.

Can this be compared to ‘From Dusk till Dawn (1996)?’ In that ‘Bone Tomahawk’ begins as one kind of film and ends up quite another, yes it can. But in other ways, not so much. Where there was an addictive sensationalist lightness to even the more gruesome moments in Tarantino’s film, here all the frivolity is saved for the earlier, character-establishing scenes. There’s no joking when the raiders show up. Although you have to wait rather too long to see them, it is worth it.

I’m not going to name specific members of the cast because everyone is excellent, and even more than that, there are no stereotypes. Far from it. Here, personality and likability wins out over young, pretty and arrogant. If you do not have believable characters, it is that much harder to get the audience to follow them, much less invest in them. This film may well have benefitted from a bit of pruning, but it is nevertheless an immersive experience, which also does something different in its approach to horror.