Bone Tomahawk, a Western horror film directed by S. Craig Zahler, has received widespread critical acclaim, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 91%. However, actor Kurt Russell, who stars in the film, has refused to categorize it as a typical “Horror Western.” Instead, he refers to it as a “graphic western,” suggesting that the film blends traditional Western elements with the terrors of battling the unknown.
The film tells the story of Sheriff Franklin Hunt, who must gather a group of fighters to rescue three kidnapped victims from a clan of cannibals. While the film’s Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 74% indicates that not everyone has given it a high rating, most critics have praised the film for its chills and thrills.
Kurt Russell has compared the film to his own classic horror flick, stating that the troglodytes are like the creature from John Carpenter’s The Thing, as both are trying to survive. However, Russell’s reluctance to label Bone Tomahawk as a “Horror Western” is likely due to his desire to distinguish the film from traditional horror westerns.
Despite Russell’s reservations, Bone Tomahawk can be seen as a Horror Western, blending traditional Western elements with the heart-pounding terrors of battling the unknown. The film’s themes and graphic death scenes are reminiscent of survival horror flicks, and its Lovecraftian elements add to the sense of unease and fear.
The film’s similar themes and graphic violence have drawn comparisons to survival horror thrillers like The Hills Have Eyes and Let the Corpses Tan. Furthermore, its premise, where a group of characters are forced to face off against primal, cannibalistic adversaries, is a staple of survival horror films.
In conclusion, while Kurt Russell may not want to label Bone Tomahawk as a “Horror Western,” the film’s themes, graphic violence, and blending of genres make it a fair categorization.
