by jellydonut25 » Mon Nov 30, 2015 4:17 pm
So, I saw this movie, which wound up with a fairly different cast than originally planned (aside from Russell). You can stream it now on Amazon or whatnot and the Blu-ray comes out at the end of December.
If you remember from back a few years ago, you know what to expect in terms of the balance of the western and horror genres and the pacing, which is slow and deliberate.
It's carried excellently by its cast (I love Kurt Russell and Patrick Wilson, Richard Jenkins and even Matthew Fox are welcome additions and an early cameo from Sid Haig was a pleasant surprise), the gravity of the situation allows the atmosphere and tension to build, and when things kick into high-gear around the 90-minute mark, the violence is hard-hitting and gut-wrenching without being overblown, stylized, or fetishized. If you can deal with the slow pacing, you're ultimately in for a treat, and some explosive moments that may stick with you after the movie is over.
This definitely leans more Western, and is less about MUTANT cannibals than just a tribe of brutes, but if you give it its due, I think you'll ultimately enjoy it.
4/5 for uniqueness, cast, and standout moments of excellence in an otherwise solid effort.