"Bone Tomahawk" (2015)DVD Review

"Bone Tomahawk" DVD Review

I've read alot of great things about this movie since it was released. I finally had a chance to watch the film this week.

"Bone Tomahawk", written and directed by S.Craig Zahler is a rare gem of a film. It's an unusual Western, one that deals with cannibal troglodytes killing citizens in the small town of "Bright Hope" in the late 1890's.

The cast:

Kurt Russell plays Sheriff Franklin Hunt. Russell is one of those rare actors who is always fun to watch. He shines in this role.

Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, Richard Jenkins, Sid Haig & David Arquette round out the perfectly cast ensemble.

Each character is as fleshed out  with authenticity by the actors in such a natural way that it's nearly impossible to dislike any one of them.

The troglodytes are horrific, both in appearance & action. The local indigenous tribes refer to the forbidden area as "The Valley of the Starving Men". A local Indian guide known only as the "Professor" tells the Sheriff about the troglodytes but refuses to take them. He instead shows them where they are on a map.

The design of the troglodytes provides a new twist to the "cannibal native" trope. These cannibals implant bones in their throats that penetrate the windpipe. They use the horrific sound to communicate & warn each other. A truly creepy sound that adds to their monstrous appearance.

The film does not flinch from the gore of the kills, whether it be a gun shot or a slaughtering of a living human being for food by the troglodytes, they show it all.

I recommend this film for many reasons: story, acting, action, horror, locations...just a great film.

If the old addage of "never judge a book by it's cover" is true, then "Bone Tomahawk" proves it.