LFF 2015: Bone Tomahawk ****

First glance at Bone Tomahawk’s poster would have Western fans rubbing their hands with glee, potentially putting off Horror junkies. It’s a curious film that could either be a Western with Horror traits, or a period slasher film set in the Wild West. Either way, it has a remarkable quality as it genuinely invests in its characters. Hence, purely labelling it a slasher with the standard bloody body count is wholly inaccurate.

When two residents of the small settler town of Bright Hope go missing, Sheriff Hunt (Kurt Russell) and his unlikely crew of right-hand man, wise-cracking Chicory (Richard Jenkins), one of the kidnapped’s wounded husband Arthur (Patrick Wilson) and local ‘Dapper Dan’ Brooder (Matthew Fox) head out on the trail of some cannibalistic Indians in a daring rescue attempt.

An air of unease looms from the very start of the film, with a fledging town rather exposed to a building malaise. It’s standard Western tactics, introducing the key players and pointing out their main characteristics. Once the foursome head off though, although you get the usual plodding horseback ride and stunning vistas then the campfire chat, it’s clear this ‘Western’ needs us to invest in its characters, so we can truly empathise with their later predicament.

Here is where writer/debut director S. Craig Zahler (writer of only one feature before, The Incident (2011)) really excels. These four could be transported into any time, any scenario because it’s their developing rapport that makes for fascinating viewing. Zahler also adds great humour that cleverly kneads the tension and fear of the unknown. He also makes the journey play out very much like real-time, though the two-hour run-time goes by very quickly.

Russell, Wilson and Fox (in a commendable against-type role) are brilliantly cast and make for an intriguing ensemble. However, it’s Jenkins’ loveable ‘old fool’ character that steals the show, coming up with the most oddly hilarious, diverting conversations in the thick of the moment. In fact, his character is the most complex – it’s clear Chicory has history and seen a lot in life, but he’s also very humbling and loyal all the same.

The film turns into a The Hills Have Eyes in the second half, ramping up the gore and casting an almost ‘supernatural’ shadow over proceedings. However, it always keeps things grounded and believable, what with alien customs in force, even though you want to be repulsed by the ‘other-worldly’ events occurring.

Zahler’s Indians are some of the most repellent any Western could possibly offer, but also some of the most privately primitive – the latter description sounding vaguely racial, but those who see the film will get the sense of this observation. There is a lot of contrast between what’s classed as ‘civilised’ behaviour and the latter, which touches on the Western tropes and further cements this genre with the slasher side.

Therefore, Bone Tomahawk is an immensely satisfying offering that will appeal to both Western and Horror camps and it looks great, production-wise. With some great acting and thoughtful directing, it certainly is one of the most refreshing Western off-shoots in a long time.

4/5 stars

By @FilmGazer

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