Strangers In a Cabin

The Hateful Eight

I think my love for the western genre comes from my father. Introducing me to such great western films like The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, and even True Grit. The stories of gunslingers, lawmen, and Native Americans are so captivating because we are given an unbridled look into the Wild West. But what happens when you add a writer/director like Quentin Tarantino to this genre. Well if Django Unchained proved anything it is that the western can be a little more brutal than we are used to. Following up to his ‘slaved turned bounty hunter’ tale, Tarantino gives the world another western The Hateful Eight.

During the years following the American Civil War, bounty hunter John “The Hangman” Ruth (Kurt Russell Furious 7) is on his way through the snowy terrain of Wyoming to Red Rock. With him is his prisoner, Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh Welcome to Me) worth $10,000. Along the way to Red Rock, Ruth comes across two strangers, Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson Kingsman: The Secret Service) and Sheriff Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins Django Unchained), looking for a ride to Minnie's Haberdashery to escape the oncoming blizzard. When the four arrive to shelter they are greeted by four more strangers. After introductions and trying to find out everyone’s story, Ruth becomes very suspicious of everyone and warns one and all that he will do anything to protect his investment.

I have to give it to Tarantino, he is has a way to bring back a genre like no one else on this planet. He almost single handedly brought the Samurai genre with Kill Bill and with these last two outings he has begun to resurrect the western genre as well. Despite the genre, this is a classic Tarantino tale of violence and revenge sprinkled with a little bit of humor. I do, however, wonder why Tarantino has decided to take on the racial tensions of Post-Civil War America with his these two films.

To single out any of the performances in this film is quite difficult. They all play there part and there isn’t any real weak links in this chain, but there aren’t any real stand outs as well. The cast play off each other very well as most casts of any Tarantino film. Now other critics have deemed Leigh a stand out and I can agree to a certain extent. Leigh is quite nuts in this film and spends most of the film with some of the best facial expressions and reactions to the action around her.

As far as Tarantino’s direction, well I think he seems to reinvent himself with every film he does. With the help of cinematographer Robert Richardson (Django Unchained), Tarantino captures a very scenic, albeit snowy, Colorado landscape. With some of his earlier films, Tarantino was very linear with his camera, but I think he blossomed with the two Kill Bill films and have become better and better since. Tarantino has no problem getting what he needs from this cast and does a masterful job making sure they gel together very well. I also loved how Tarantino made this film in a way that the audience is watching a play unfold. There is one set essentially and many characters within one place. The story unfolds on stage and Tarantino is able to flawlessly move the audience through the events as if we are right there in Minnie’s Haberdashery.

If you are a Tarantino fan and enjoy all of his movies, The Hateful Eight is going to be a no brainer. I loved this film, but I don’t think it was his best. Reserving that spot for Reservoir Dogs, but this is definitely a good film. If you aren’t a Tarantino fan, I’m sorry this film won’t be the start of your Tarantino journey.

The Verdict: See In Theatres.