Summary
Kurt Russell’s highly underrated WesternBone Tomahawkis now streaming on Netflix, giving it the opportunity to finally get the recognition that it always deserved. Featuring a star-studded supporting cast,Bone Tomahawkis unique in the modern Western genre in that it blends traditional Western elements withgruesome death scenesand legitimate horror. The end result is a gripping, well-paced story that both critics and fans have raved about since it was released in 2015. It has developed into a cult classic for both horror and Western fans, and its following has continued to grow recently.
Kurt Russell is no stranger to either the Western or horror genres, as he starred inTombstone, one of the most popular and well-known Westerns of all time, andThe Thing, John Carpenter’s foundational horror classic. However,Bone Tomahawkmight be his finest work in either genre, and his performance at the center of the talented ensemble cast is one of the major reasons critics have applauded the film. As more people discover thestealth remake of a John Wayne classicwith it streaming on Netflix, it should shoot up the streaming platform’s top ten list.
Every Kurt Russell Western, Ranked Worst To Best
Kurt Russell has only made a few Westerns in his career like The Hateful Eight, but his outings have been some of the genre’s best in recent years.
Kurt Russell’s Bone Tomahawk Is Streaming On Netflix As Of June 23, 2025
An underrated Western/horror blend
Bone Tomahawk follows a rescue party consisting of a sheriff, his deputy, a gunslinger and a desperate husband as they search for a group of people from the town of Bright Hope who they believe have been kidnapped by Native Americans. An arrow left behind by the kidnappers sets them on the path of a tribe of “Troglodytes”, who are violent, inbred cannibals who dwell in caves. Their journey leads to a final showdown in the caves of the cannibals, where gruesome deaths occur on both sides. Self-sacrifice and bravery result in the freedom of one of the kidnapped townspeople.
Peter Skarsgaard, Timothy Olyphant, and Jennifer Carpenter were originally cast for the parts of John Brooder, Arthur O’Dwyer and Samantha O’Dwyer, but due to scheduling conflicts they were replaced by Matthew Fox, Patrick Wilson, and Lili Simmons.
Bone Tomahawk’s supporting cast is part of what makes it such an underrated classic. In addition to Russell as the stern and reserved Sheriff Franklin Hunt, his posse includes Richard Jenkins, Matthew Fox, and Patrick Wilson. Matthew Fox in particular is entertaining as the clean and proper gunslinger John Brooder, and adds just enough necessary levity to the proceedings. Lili Simmons absolutely shines as Samantha O’Dwyer, and plays both the frontier wife and the horror movie Final Girl with aplomb.
Bone Tomahawk’s Impressive Rotten Tomatoes Score Explained
It boasts powerful performances and a gripping final act
Bone Tomahawk’s91% on the Rotten TomatoesTomatometer is based on over 100 critic reviews, so it’s a very legitimate representation of the overall critical reception. One of the most universally-acclaimed elements of the movie is its innovative mix of genres. It’s rare that the horror and Western genres are effectively blended, butBone Tomahawkmanages to involve some of the best elements of both genres in a cohesive, engrossing narrative. The over-the-top violence serves a legitimate purpose in the story, underscoring the desperation and terror of the rescue situation.
Originally, novelist S. Craig Zahler set out to make a film adaptation of his novelWraiths of a Broken Land, but in an effort to make a successful low-budget adaptation, he shifted the narrative to a rescue Western, which became the screenplay forBone Tomahawk.
In addition to the story, critics specifically called out the movie’s dialogue in their positive reviews. While it feels like a slow burn, at no point does it become boring thanks to the sharp writing and powerful performances.Bone Tomahawkwas the directorial debut of screenwriter and novelist S. Craig Zahler, and his direction and cinematography were also highlights that were frequently applauded. For all these reasons,Bone Tomahawkis worthy of far more recognition than it has received, and now that it’s on Netflix it has a chance to finally get it from a much larger audience.
Bone Tomahawk
Cast
Bone Tomahawk is a Western film that follows Sheriff Franklin Hunt, who gathers together a group of fighters to save three kidnapped victims from a clan of cannibals. After the town’s doctor is kidnapped along with two others, forcing the sheriff to partner with the town’s Native American professor and find the tribe before it’s too late.
