December 11, 2015

One of the most talked about stand out films that played earlier this fall at Beyond Fest was the Western, BONE TOMAHAWK. Now that it’s officially available on Amazon VOD for rental (with a Blu-Ray/DVD release queued up for December 29th), I rented the flick and it immediately not only became my Killer POV pick of the week, but one of my favorite genre films of 2015.

BONE TOMAHAWK is the directorial debut from cinematographer, writer and novelist S. Craig Zahler, and for a first time feature, just from the writing stand point alone, it’s incredibly impressive. Despite being a low budget affair from a first time director, the script was good enough to attract a cast fronted by Kurt Russell and also starring Richard Jenkins, Patrick Wilson and Matthew Fox. And let’s not forget a great opening sequence with genre fave Sid Haig and David Arquette. Keep your eyes peeled and you’ll also spot brief cameos from Michael Pare, Sean Young and James Tolken! (Strickland from BACK TO THE FUTURE!)

I have to quote my Killer POV co-host Elric Kane when it comes to the basic description of this movie, because I truly believe the less you know, the more you’ll enjoy it, but this is fairly accurate – it’s a Western that feels like a Coen Brothers movie that gets invaded by CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST.

A stranger rolls into this otherwise peaceful little community. He promptly gets arrested by the Sheriff and tossed in jail with a bullet in his leg. In the middle of the night, a small, remote group of Indians break in and kidnap the injured stranger, the on-duty deputy and the nurse. Known to be an extremely dangerous tribe of cannibals, the Sherriff recruits a handful of men on a rescue operation (or suicide mission, however you want to look at it).

Kurt Russell is always good, but here he’s as terrific as it gets. It could be that glorious beard which we’ll also see him sport in Quentin Tarantino’s THE HATEFUL EIGHT later this month. As a genre fan, I’ve always loved Patrick Wilson (THE CONJURING, INSIDIOUS) and that trend continues here with his role as concerned and crippled husband Arthur O’Dywer. Matthew Fox is terrific as the complex, hot-headed, upper class socialite and Indian hunter John Brooder. And last but certainly not least, one of the greatest supporting cast performances I’ve seen in any movie this year has to go to the almost completely unrecognizable Richard Jenkins. His rapport and relationship with Russell’s Sherriff Hunt is one for the ages.

The majority of this movie is a Western, but when the violence strikes, it is brutal, unexpected and jaw dropping. There’s one sequence in particular that you will not be prepared for and puts all of THE GREEN INFERNO to shame. I can’t recommend this film enough. It’s a solid 2 hours and 12 minutes long, so if you plan to rent it on VOD or pick up the Blu-Ray, be sure to dim the lights down, crank the sound and turn off the phone. You’ll be in for a treat.

Hear more on the latest episode of Killer POV where we welcome special guest Craig Perry, the producer of the AMERICAN PIE and FINAL DESTINATION franchises, and discuss our favorite on-screen horror movie deaths!