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Fantastic Fest: BONE TOMAHAWK – The Review – We Are Movie Geeks

Fantastic Fest

Fantastic Fest: BONE TOMAHAWK – The Review

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Some words just sound better on paper than on-screen. Such is the case with S. Craig Zahler’s horror western BONE TOMAHAWK. What works in literary form does not work when spoken through the mouth of actors Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, and other members of this fine cast. Zahler has had a bright career as a published writer dabbling in genres but mainly sticking to the western front. Although I’m not as familiar with his style as some, his timely but overly snappy dialogue doesn’t quite roll off the tongue, and certainly isn’t as quick and sharp as the weapon of the film’s title.

A lone thief (David Arquette) shuffles into town late one night. He just lost his partner (played by genre veteran Sid Haig) and is still shaken by a sudden attack he barely escaped. But just as quickly as he downs his drink at the local watering hole, the town’s sheriff (Kurt Russell) throws him in jail – of course not before shooting him in the foot. The town’s nurse (Lili Simmons) is called upon to fix the new hole in the man. However, this late night call quickly turns into a nightmare when her husband Arthur O’Dwyer (Patrick Wilson) wakes to find that his wife is still missing in the morning. All signs point to a cannibalistic tribe that live deep in the mountains. It is now up to the sheriff, his assistant deputy Chicory (Richard Jenkins), an indian-killing gunslinger (Matthew Fox), and the injured O’Dwyer to hunt down the tribe and rescue the missing woman.

Russell and Jenkins are in top form as the two aging lawmen. Russell is straight no nonsense and all grit while Jenkins delivers much levity to the ultra serious affair. Their scenes opposite one another work the best. A charming rapport is ignited by two actors that can do this stuff in their sleep. Even still, some of their lines feel so forced and unnatural that you can’t help but roll your eyes.

Thankfully the dialogue starts to come together once the group sets out on the dusty trail. Male-bonding takes center-stage as the four men venture out into the unknown. Their support for the injured O’Dwyer is admirable and adds heart to their journey. But just as slowly as Wilson limps along, the film moves at a snail’s pace. At 133 minutes, Zahler spends far too long forcing the audience to empathize with O’Dwyer’s redemptive struggle against all odds to find his wife – he’s shown as some form of Rocky mixed with Jesus.

BONE TOMAHAWK showcases an impressive cast playing a cheap looking game of cowboys and indians. Aside from what the actors’ salaries, the only moments where you feel like the budget is being put to good use is in the gory effects. Blood splurts, limbs are removed, and bodies are bisected like meat in a butcher’s shop. The final act is a real showstopper! Gore hounds will be satisfied as well as those looking for a western with some bite. It’s just a damn shame that the journey leading up to the bloody bits is littered with stale male bonding, cheap looking costumes, and absolutely zero tension. Instead of building atmosphere as the cowboys close-in on the cannibal cave, Zahler seems more keen on creating sympathy for Wilson as he is shown time and time again hobbling around the desert.

BONE TOMAHAWK seems to want to be both a male bonding classic western while also incorporating a healthy amount of exploitation shocks. Zahler’s persistance on unnatural cowboy banter combined with an unnecessary sex scene (complete with female nudity, of course) and over the top bloodshed make this feel as if Lucio Fulci directed THE SEARCHERS. Given the talent involved, BONE TOMAHAWK feels more tawdry than the exciting genre mashup that it was shooting to be.

 

Overall rating: 3 out of 5

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I enjoy sitting in large, dark rooms with like-minded cinephiles and having stories unfold before my eyes.