I have seen a lot of movies in my time, so I've seen a lot of
violence, gore and scenes that were specifically designed to be
"scary", but there's only two things that have frightened me that
I've ever seen on film.
One of them was in this movie; Bone Tomahawk.
And trust me I don't mean frightened, as in you see it and your pulse quickens, or you gasp, or flinch. I am talking about unsettlingly scary. The kind of thing that sticks with you long after the movie's credits have rolled.
It may even sneak up on you. You could be enjoying your morning energy
drink while at work, and suddenly and unapologetically, the scene forces its
way into your brain. It occupies the space there whether you want it to or not,
looming over you while you try not to break out in a nervous sweat. You hope
none of your colleagues notice, because you don’t want to have to explain its
cause.
Bone Tomahawk is a western; classic in that it’s set in a desert, has
a traditional archetypes; the vengeful husband, the ol’ timer, sheriff, and
the dandy. In fact, the main driver of the plot is rescuing the damsel in
distress (sigh)- from the injuns (double
sigh). But there’s so much more to it than that!
When’s the last time (if ever) you were legitimately afraid while
watching a western? Bone Tomahawk manages to do this, and still not take you
out of the fact that at the heart of the film there are still four men trudging
across a barren desert, trying to dodge arrows. The result is barbarically
beautiful and brilliant. Most importantly, it’s subtle.
So if you’re in the mood for some old west action, give Bone Tomahawk
a try. Just be prepared: You’re going to get more then you bargained for.
