[Nerdspresso] Bone Tomahawk Still Hits Hard

While cruising Netflix recently, a movie popped up that I haven’t watched in a while so I queued it up for a rewatch. I did so with some trepidation. Not because it isn’t good, but because it’s so intense. Bone Tomahawk has a sterling cast and a compelling story, but it pulls you into some nightmare territory. Like you can’t unsee it kind of stuff. This flick is one of the best movies that I’ve seen in years, but it doesn’t pull any punches. 

No less than Stephen King sang its praises this past summer when he discovered this movie on a rainy July afternoon. The modern master of horror called Bone Tomahawk “a low-budget Western epic.” I agree with Uncle Steve. It’s right up there with Tombstone and The Hateful Eight as one of the best Westerns made in decades. It’s no coincidence that these hardcore oaters all have something in common. They all star the legendary Kurt Russell sporting some rather spectacular facial hair. 

I’ve been a longtime fan of Mr. Russell’s work. All the way back to John Carpenter’s Escape From New York and The Thing. Heck, even before then. I remember watching him as loveable teen genius Dexter Riley in a series of wacky Disney comedies from the ’70’s. Come on, he was the computer that wore tennis shoes! This dude is freaking likeable and he can help you connect to even the weirdest scenarios. Kurt even made Captain Ron bearable and was the best thing about the Godzilla spinoff on Apple TV last year. 

Russell has rocked it for more than half a century, kicking major butt in dozens of awesome flicks from Big Trouble in Little China to Backdraft to Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2. This fellow has been one of my imaginary celebrity bros for quite some time, which is why I was drawn to check out Bone Tomahawk soon after it premiered in the summer of 2015. He brings gruff nobility to his role of the small-town sheriff dealing with some pretty freaky stuff. 

Danger has come to the tiny frontier hamlet of Bright Hope. Mysterious savages have infliltrated the town and run off with some of the citizens, including the pretty town doctor. Sherriff Hunt and his deputy assemble a posse to rescue the townspeople. City Boy Arthur O’Dwyer (Patrick Wilson from Watchmen and The Conjuring), joins the search because his wife was abucted along with Hunt’s young deputy and a drifter named Purvis (David Arquette from the Scream movies).

What’s erroneously assumed to be Native Americans on the warpath actually turns out to be a fringe tribe of inbred cannibals called Troglodytes, shunned and feared by the other tribes. Purvis and a buddy got on their bad side by trespassing on their sacred burial ground. The Troglodytes killed his pal and tracked Purvis to Bright Hope. Now they’ve absconded with him, Mrs. O’Dwyer, and Deputy Nick. Hunt, Deputy Chicory, and their posse give chase. 

Their pursuit gives way to several scenic montages of rugged landscapes, which is a requirement if you’re in a Western. In fact, every character in this movie comes from a file marked “classic Western types.” Hunt is the weary lawman with Chicory, the loyal sidekick. Arthur is the city slicker while Brooder, the last member of this group, is the stoic gun for hire. The actors rise above these types and bring color and energy to their roles. They inhabit these personas, fleshing out what could have been shallow parts in lesser hands. 

Journeyman actor Richard Jenkins, who elevates every role from the departed patriarch in HBO’s Six Feet Under to the beleaguered dad in Step Brothers, plays Chicory. He brings depth to this simple character. His chemistry with Russell adds layers to their relationship. Meanwhile, Wilson’s genial blandness, which can be a distraction in some roles (Morning Glory, Moonfall), is an advantage here. He plays Arthur like a determined sheep amongst wolves. Matthew Fox, who is usually forgettable (honestly, name one of his roles besides Lost and Party of Five), displays newfound charisma as the enigmatic Brooder. 

Bone Tomahawk blazes its own trail while still being true to the genre. It’s the western for those who don’t like Westerns. Once our heroes discover the Trogodytes’ hideout, a series of caves deep in the hills, the movie takes a sharp detour into horror territory. Just like From Dusk Til Dawn, which abruptly went from crime thriller to vampire flick, this movie goes totally gazoo. But director/writer S. Craig Zahler’s steady hand keeps things on track. You are so invested in these characters and this story that you’re along for the ride. 

And it takes you to some very dark places. The Troglodytes are freaking scary. There’s not a lot of character development here, but these guys do their job. There is no doubt that they are the villains here. It’s a true nightmare scenario. Zahler does a lot with sound and lighting to create a very ominous tone. Hunt and his posse are outmatched and trapped in this subterranean lair. Now the story becomes a true tale of good versus evil. There are moments in this flick that will haunt you. 

Bone Tomahawk is the rare movie these days that has a distinct voice. Zahler deftly balances tropes to come up with one of the coolest flicks in years. And give this guy props for coming out of the gate so strong with his directorial debut. Since Bone Tomahawk, he has made two other movies and they are just as hardcore. Check out Dragged Across Concrete with Mel Gibson and Brawl in Cell Block 99 with Vince Vaughn. Zahler’s bread and butter is gritty, no-holds-barred thrillers that feature knockout performances from aging stars. 

He finds performers that have dropped off the A-List, but still have some fight left in them. And in Zahler’s movies, these guys always come out swinging. His next flick is due in 2025. It’s a period gangster piece with Adrian Brody. If Zahler’s track record holds, prepare to be surprised. I’m sure that this movie will feature something unexpected from an actor that hasn’t given us a standout performance in years. This auteur is like actor Viagra. 

You can catch Bone Tomahawk now on Netflix, Hulu, and Pluto TV. Watch it and tell me that it’s not trippy, horrifying, and utterly compelling. It gives you everything you want from a Western and everything required from a horror flick. This movie stays with you. Bone Tomahawk is an exquisite blend of genres and its core there is Kurt Russell holding things together with both hands. Put this one next to The Hateful Eight and you will see that he has starred in two of the most irresistable Westerns of the 21st Century. Unless John Wayne comes back from the dead, he holds the title for best cowboy actor working in movies today.