Bone Tomahawk (2015)

Four men set out in the Wild West to rescue a group of captives from cannibalistic cave dwellers.

Director:

S. Craig Zahler

Writer:

S. Craig Zahler

Stars:

Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox

3 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kurt Russell	...	Sheriff Hunt
Patrick Wilson	...	Arthur
Matthew Fox	...	Brooder
Richard Jenkins	...	Chicory
Lili Simmons	...	Samantha
Evan Jonigkeit	...	Deputy Nick
David Arquette	...	Purvis
Fred Melamed	...	Clarence
Sid Haig	...	Buddy
Maestro Harrell	...	Gizzard
James Tolkan	...	Pianist
Kathryn Morris	...	Lorna Hunt
Zahn McClarnon	...	The Professor
Michael Emery	...	Redheaded Fellow
Jeremy Tardy	...	Buford

Storyline

Four men set out in the Wild West to rescue a group of captives from cannibalistic cave dwellers.

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Plot Keywords:

escape | deputy | shot in the leg | pregnant woman | shot to death | 

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Taglines:

Franklin Hunt: The law

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Horror | Thriller | Western

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 October 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kaula Tomahauks

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,800,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Caliber Media Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the second David Arquette western involving cannibalism. The first one was Ravenous (1999).

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Goofs

During the sheriff's first hand to hand contact with the 'cave dwellers' he is thrown to the ground and his hat drops, brim first, close to his head on his right hand side. In subsequent shots it alternates between this position and being on his left, turned upside down.

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Quotes

Chicory: You know, I know the world's supposed to be round, but I'm not so sure about this part.

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Soundtracks

Four Doomed Men Ride Out
Written by Jeff Herriott & S. Craig Zahler
Performed by Haley-Marie Asher, Eleanor Barsch, Chir Dozoryst, Frank Hanson, Jeff Herriott, Kelly Jarvis, Brian Leeper, Elizabeth Marvitz, Brad Townsend & Benjamin Whitcomb
Published by Twilight Riders LLC
Courtesy of Twilight Riders LLC

User Reviews

A Strong Western with the Brutality of a Horror Film

Bone Tomahawk is about a small group of cowboys who set out in search of a group of cannibals who have kidnapped some of their townspeople, including the wife of one of the rough riders. It may sound similar to a lot of other westerns in the sense that it's a rescue story, which is somewhat true in the beginning. The first half of the movie is a great character drama as it follows the group of four for a few day and nights as they travel to their destination. This is where some people might have a problem with the film and the pacing might become an issue. During this time, we get expanded knowledge about the men involved and I found it rather entertaining because the route to their destination is just as dangerous as the destination itself. Yes, the movie could have been trimmed down by about 10-12 minutes, but it wasn't too slow that I lost interest (like many others I have read did).

It is during this time where acting comes into play and, for the most part, it's all on point, especially Kurt Russell! To no surprise, he is the highlight of the movie and is no one to be trifled with. He gives a very gritty and convincing performance worthy of his filmography. As well as the three other gentlemen that ride along with him, they all hit their marks (even my boy Matthew Fox from LOST).

The only real problem outside of the pacing is Lili Simmons' awkwardly dull performance (mostly during her captivity). Normally I wouldn't point out such a small characters performance but it was seriously lacking. It could be because her character was poorly written for the type of situation she was in. For example, why was she so relaxed and showing barely any emotion in such a frightening situation? Yes she could have broken down mentally but that doesn't let her off the hook. Also her line delivery was highly questionable and her overall performance felt like dead weight.

But it is the final 45 minutes of the movie that will leave everyone talking. Bone Tomahawk explodes into the horror genre with its cannibalistic violence (is this the return of cannibalistic horror movies?). The action is swift, and I mean very swift, it really comes out of nowhere. And this was what I loved most about the movie, you know they are getting closer and closer to unprecedented evil but you aren't quite sure when or where they will strike. It's this trepidation that makes the final third of the movie so thrilling. They're clearly unprepared for the gauntlet that is waiting for them. I won't spoil anything but the movie really doesn't shy away from violence once they get to where they are going. Bone Tomahawk transcends from a slow moving western into a carnage fueled frenzy.