Bone tomahawk has 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. But, how Bone tomahawk And as his 25-year-old predecessor proves, it could be a match made in heaven.
Although many horror movies rely on supernatural thrills, Bone tomahawkIts success comes from its unflinching and undeniably disturbing brutality. The story centers around a rescue mission mounted by Kurt Russell’s Sheriff Franklin Hunt, who sets out to retrieve some townsfolk from a tribe of murderous troglodytes. The drama is unremittingly violent, centered on the cannibalistic habits of the antagonists. The key detail is clearly stated Bone tomahawk To an underrated horror release – Guy Pearce’s 1999 horror-western, Ravenous.
Ravenous is in many ways the original bone tomahawk
Both movies have similar stories and villains
Much like Bone tomahawk, Ravenous derives its horror from cannibalism. The story centers around a cowardly captain on the American frontier (Guy Pearce).which enters 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 are stranded in a remote pass, eventually forced to resort to cannibalism to survive. Perce’s character, along with several others, mount a rescue mission, only to be confronted with the terrifying truth that the alien is now addicted to human flesh and plans to take over the garrison.
as of writing, Ravenous is available to stream on Apple TV+.
The story of a powerful crew of frontiersmen that goes out into the desert to discover the truth about a group of cannibals is clearly reminiscent of Kurt Russell’s release in 2015. While other horror-westerns, such as Live dark And From dusk till dawn Using Western trappings to spin a distinctly supernatural story, Ravenous And Bone tomahawks use of the cannibal motif connects the movies to real stories Of violence and horror on the border. While Ravenous is far more hyperbolic—clearly identifying with the Wendigo mythos—it’s a clear narrative foreshadowing of S. Craig Zahler’s critically acclaimed genre entry.
Rawness and Bone Tomahawk explore similar ideas
Cannibalism connects the movies
It’s not just narrative similarities that connect Ravenous And Bone tomahawk. By centering on cannibalism as a key theme, The two movies explore very similar ideas about the wildness of the Old West And what limits humanity will push to ensure survival. In both films, cannibalism is more than a gruesome excuse to have 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 films set out to examine the idea that when humanity returns to the wild, something terrible and primal has the potential to liberate.
Whereas Bone tomahawk clearly explores the clash between the so-called civil society and the dangerousothers“…Ravenous Says that the desert itself has the power to corrupt…
There is no doubt that Ravenous is much more sensationalist in its sensibility than Bone tomahawk. Whereas Bone tomahawk clearly explores the clash between so-called civil society and the dangerousothers” (embodied by Bone tomahawkmysterious troglodytes), Ravenous Claims that the desert itself has the power to corrupt – turn anyone to their worst instincts. However, although these two topics represent a different approach, they clearly constitute two sides of the same cruel coin.
Bone Tomahawk is better than Ravenous – although Ravenous has its strengths
His genre blending is much more effective
Like many other horror-westerns, no Bone tomahawk Or Ravenous was a commercial success. In fact, both movies disappointed at the box office, with Bone tomahawk Making only $475,000 against a $1.8 million budget, and Ravenous Proved even more of a flop – taking only $2 million of a $12 million production cost. However, while these films shared similar financial woes, There is a clear gap when it comes to their critical reception.
|
Movie |
Budget |
Box Office |
RT critics score |
RT audience score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ravenous |
$12 million |
$2 million |
52% |
78% |
|
Bone tomahawk |
$1.8 million |
$475,000 |
91% |
74% |
Although it was not a complete turkey, Ravenous Divided 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 from being considered a critical hit. rather, Bone tomahawk was critically acclaimed, earning 91% positive reviews from critics. A 74% audience score is indicative of the more challenging topicBut it is clear that Bone tomahawk Enjoys 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. While Ravenous It’s more action-packed, it’s 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 tomahawkIts reputation has only grown since its release, while Ravenous remains an underrated cult classic.