Bone Tomahawk (2015), directed by S. Craig Zahler, is an unflinching and brutal Western horror film that blends two distinct genresโWestern and horrorโin a way that is both unique and unsettling. It is a slow-burn tale that builds tension over time, only to unleash shocking violence and terror in its third act. Set in the late 19th century, Bone Tomahawk tells a story of survival, courage, and the savage nature of humanity, all within the rugged and unforgiving backdrop of the American frontier.
The film begins with a seemingly typical Western setup: a small town in the American West, populated by a mix of hard-working, rough-and-tumble settlers. When a group of settlers is kidnapped by a mysterious tribe of cannibalistic natives, Sheriff Franklin Hunt (Kurt Russell) teams up with a small group of men to venture into the wilderness and rescue them.
The party includes the aging and ill Deputy Chicory (Richard Jenkins), the confident and capable gunslinger John Brooder (Matthew Fox), and the brave but injured Arthur O’Dwyer (Patrick Wilson), whose wife, Samantha (Lili Simmons), is among the captives. As the group travels deeper into the wilderness, they face numerous dangers, but the true horror lies in the tribe they are up againstโa brutal, inhuman group that practices cannibalism and savagery.
The strength of Bone Tomahawk lies in its character development. The film takes its time in introducing the characters, allowing the audience to get to know them before the horror begins. Kurt Russellโs portrayal of Sheriff Hunt is the heart of the film. Hunt is a competent and experienced leader, but also a man burdened by the harsh realities of frontier life. He is driven by a sense of duty, but also by his own personal code of honor.
Richard Jenkins, playing the aging Deputy Chicory, provides the film with moments of humor and warmth, offering a stark contrast to the brutality of the film’s events. Patrick Wilsonโs Arthur O’Dwyer, a man pushed to the limits of his endurance for the sake of his wife, is one of the most emotionally compelling characters in the film. His pain and determination give the film an emotional core that makes the violence that much more impactful.
