Bone Tomahawkhas been praised by audiences and critics for its successful blend of horror and Western elements – a trick arguably pioneered by a cult genre flick released in 1999. On the surface, it may not seem like the sweeping romance of traditional Western stories has much compatibility with the oppressive, often nihilistic tone of many horror projects. However, asBone Tomahawkand its 25-year-old predecessor prove, it can be a match made in heaven.
Whereas many horror movies rely on supernatural thrills,Bone Tomahawk’s successcomes from its unflinching and undeniably disturbing brutality. The story centers around a rescue mission mounted byKurt Russell’s Sheriff Franklin Hunt, who sets out to retrieve some townsfolk from a tribe of murderous troglodytes. The drama is unremittingly violent, centering on the cannibalistic habits of the antagonists. This key detail clearly relatesBone Tomahawkto an underrated horror release –Guy Pearce’s 1999 horror-Western,Ravenous.
Ravenous Is In Many Ways The Original Bone Tomahawk
Both Movies Feature Similar Stories And Villains
Much likeBone Tomahawk,Ravenousderives its horror from cannibalism.The story centers around a cowardly captain on the American frontier (Guy Pearce), who joins a garrison high in the Sierra Nevada mountains. One day, the garrison is visited by a stranger, who tells them that he and his group became stranded in a remote pass, eventually being forced to resort to cannibalism to survive. Pearce’s character, along with several others, mount a rescue mission, only to be confronted with the terrifying truth that the stranger is now addicted to human flesh and plans to take over the garrison.
As of writing,Ravenousis available to stream on Apple TV+.
The narrative of a motley crew of frontiersmen heading out into the wilderness to uncover the truth about a group of cannibals is clearly reminiscent of Kurt Russell’s 2015 release. Whileother horror-Westerns, such asNear DarkandFrom Dusk Till Dawnuse Western trappings to spin an explicitly supernatural story,RavenousandBone Tomahawk’s use of the cannibal motif connects the movies to real storiesof violence and horror on the frontier. WhileRavenousis much more hyperbolic – explicitly identifying itself with the Wendigo myth – it is a clear narrative forerunner of S. Craig Zahler’s critically acclaimed genre entry.
Ravenous And Bone Tomahawk Explore Similar Ideas
Cannibalism Connects The Movies
It’s not just narrative similarities that connectRavenousandBone Tomahawk. By centering on cannibalism as a key theme,the two movies explore very similar ideas about the savagery of the Old Westand what limits humanity will push to ensure survival. In both films, cannibalism is more than a grisly excuse to feature some macabre set-pieces. It has a thematic resonance, evoking the idea of consumption and humanity’s inherent barbarism. In their own ways, the two movies set out to examine the idea that, when humanity returns to the wild, something terrifying and primal has the potential to be released.
WhereasBone Tomahawkexplicitly explores the clash between so-called civil society and the dangerous “other”…Ravenousposits that the wilderness itself has the power to corrupt…
There’s no doubt thatRavenousis a lot more sensationalist in its sensibilities thanBone Tomahawk. WhereasBone Tomahawkexplicitly explores the clash between so-called civil society and the dangerous “other” (embodied byBone Tomahawk’s mysterious troglodytes),Ravenousposits that the wilderness itself has the power to corrupt – turning anyone towards their baser instincts. However, while these two themes represent a different approach, they clearly constitute two sides of the same grisly coin.
Bone Tomahawk Is Better Than Ravenous – Although Ravenous Has Its Strengths
Its Genre Blend Is Much More Effective
Like many other horror-Westerns, neitherBone TomahawknorRavenouswas a commercial success. In fact, both movies disappointed at the box office, withBone Tomahawkmaking just $475,000 against a $1.8 million budget, andRavenousproving even more of a flop – taking just $2 million from a $12 million production cost. However, while the films shared similar financial misfortunes,there is a clear gap when it comes to their critical reception.
$12 million
$2 million
52%
78%
$1.8 million
$475,000
91%
74%
While it was by no means a total turkey,Ravenousdivided critics – earning 52% positive reviews according to the aggregator,Rotten Tomatoes. Its more positive audience score of 78% underlines its status as a cult classic, but still indicates that it is some way off being considered a critical hit. By contrast,Bone Tomahawkwas critically acclaimed, earning 91% positive reviews from critics.A 74% audience score is indicative of its more challenging subject matter, but it’s clear thatBone Tomahawkenjoys a more positive general reception.
There are several reasons for this. For one, the movie offers a more grounded and nuanced psychological portrait of its characters, interspersed with moments of genuinely shocking violence. WhileRavenousis more action-packed, it is less subtle in its exploration of deeper themes like human nature and the limits of survival. As a result, while both movies have their strengths,Bone Tomahawk’s reputation has only grown since its release, whileRavenousremains an underrated cult classic.
