Friday, 21 October 2016

Bone Tomahawk (18)

There is something of a Western revival going on at the moment.

The Magnificent Seven has been given a make-over, Jane Got A Gun hit the big screen fleetingly, and Bone Tomahawk likewise spent a seemingly brief period at the multiplex.

Sadly, due to life dong what life does best, this summer was one of missed films rather than a worn-out loyalty card - but as winter hoves into view, the DVD releases are upon us.



So, at last, Bone Tomahawk can be feasted upon.

With Kurt Russell, Lili Simmons, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, David Arquette and Richard Jenkins heading the cast, this is no low-budget affair either.

It's packing heat in all areas, and not just the pistols.

But - and this is the real beauty of Bone Tomahawk - this is no ordinary western.

You look at the cast, you hear the plot - people need rescuing from wild tribe - and you figure you've got the whole thing boxed off and sorted from the off.

But you'd be wrong.

Oh so wrong.

Bone Tomahawk takes your preconceptions and tears them apart.

Rips them in half.

And that's why it's such a brilliant, brilliant film.

The start is quite grisly, with people's throats being cut open and blood going everywhere, but after that things calm down.

But that's your warning of what's to come, because when the business end of Tomahawk kicks in it gets brutal.

And not just visually.

The sound guys were having a field day here, and you find yourself squirming in your seat as legs fail to heal, throats are examined in great detail and machetes do what machetes do.

Thankfully, it's not all gruesome gore and dusty horse joggings - writer/director S. Craig Zahler knows what he's doing and lifts the mood periodically with some sharp shooting in the dialogue department.

The jokes are dark at times, sure, but there are laughs littered all over this film to offset the visual horrors that you're beset by.

And that's just another reason why this film is so good - the balance between light and dark, gore and humour is near perfect.

In fact, there's very little to criticise here.

Performances? Great. The look? Spot on. Dialogue? Nailed it. Fights and action scenes? Hard hitting.

For a first time director (and only his second writing credit), the lad's done good.



Sure, this is not the relaxing, Sunday afternoon cowboy flick you might be expecting.

Sure, instead you get a brutal, tense, thrilling ride across the plains which will have you staring at the screen while wishing you could look away (but you don't, in case you miss something).

This is not a film for everyone - in fact half of the audience I was with never want to hear mention of this film again, and she's no wimp - but if you are willing to take a chance you'll be treated to a future cult classic.

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