Is Bone Tomahawk the Most Disturbing Horror Film of All Time?

by

Kurt Russell has consistently excelled in roles for Western-themed films. His transition to a leading adult actor, following years as a child actor on Disney sets, is evident in movies like “Escape from New York,” which contains elements of the Western genre. Additionally, he essentially co-directed “Tombstone” and starred in it. However, “Tombstone” is only one example among three Western films that Russell has made, all of which are highly praised. One of these you may be familiar with: Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight.” The other film might not have garnered as much attention – the Western horror movie “Bone Tomahawk.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Bone Tomahawk is just as deserving of being rented as Tombstone and The Hateful Eight – that is, if you have the fortitude for it, because make no mistake, Bone Tomahawk is an incredibly gruesome film.

What Is Bone Tomahawk About?

In simpler terms, the Western horror film “Bone Tomahawk” was the first movie directed by S. Craig Zahler. He has produced a total of three films so far, all of which can be considered B-movies but with top-notch production quality and at least one big-name star appearing in promotional materials. To clarify, two other movies – “Brawl in Cell Block 99” (starring Vince Vaughn) and “Dragged Across Concrete” (featuring Vaughn and Mel Gibson) – are almost as impressive as “Bone Tomahawk.

The movie starts with two unscrupulous thieves, Purvis (played by David Arquette) and Buddy (the late Sid Haig), appearing first. They accidentally discover a sacred Native American burial ground. Tragically, Buddy meets his end in a violent encounter. Overwhelmed, Purvis hurries to the town of Bright Hope, where he conceals his most recent loot. Unfortunately for him, a town deputy, Deputy Chicory (Richard Jenkins), witnesses this act and hands him over to Sheriff Franklin Hunt (Russell).

In the evening, a stablehand is fatally shot with an arrow, a crime that the local professor suspects is linked to the cave-dwelling Troglodytes, known for their cannibalistic habits who reside in caves near the town’s cliffs. Tragically, Sheriff Purvis, Deputy Nick, and Dr. O’Dwyer’s daughter, Samantha, have been abducted by these cave dwellers from the sheriff’s office.

To save them, Sheriff Hunt requires a group of helpers, so he gathers Deputy Chicory and the town’s most skilled gunman, John Brooder (Matthew Fox). Despite his injuries, Samantha’s husband, Arthur (Patrick Wilson), is determined to join in, offering assistance.

The movie subsequently unfolds an expected journey aimed at locating the tribe. However, it offers particularly gory and frightening scenes, particularly towards the end, which are typically found in horror films rather than traditional Westerns.

How Gory Is Bone Tomahawk?

Watching movies that involve cannibalism will undoubtedly be a disturbing experience, and “Bone Tomahawk” falls into the same category as films like “Cannibal Holocaust” or “The Green Inferno”, although it might be slightly less intense in terms of graphic violence. The most bearable death scene (pun unintended) is one where a tomahawk is driven into the skull.

The final scene of the movie featuring one death is the most frequently discussed, and understandably so. It’s almost as if it were lifted from a “Terrifier” film. Although we might forget many details of the sequence, it’s safe to say that this particular scene will linger in your mind for a long period, whether you want it to or not.

Bone Tomahawk is currently streaming on Netflic, Tubi, and PlutoTV.

Read More

2025-06-14 23:09