The 8th film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, appropriately titled “The Hateful Eight,” is a graphic symphony of colorful characters, bloody ordeals, and filthy mouths. Basically, it is a Tarantino film. From early on it proves to be a painful movie, not because there was anything particularly bad about it but because it tugs and twists all ranges of fear, disgust, and sympathy pulling from the full array of your emotional spectrum.
The cast is exceptional. Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell, in addition to several other Tarantino regulars, namely Tim Roth and Michael Madsen, all put up stellar performances; not to mention Jennifer Jason Leigh who stands out the most with her portrayal of a gang running villainess on her way to be hanged. It should be noted that it is a Tarantino film, so expect a sizeable body count, but anyone who’s seen any of his previous movies shouldn’t be too surprised by the explicit depictions of violence.
Brutal as it may be, it still manages to weave an enticing story that unravels with the progression of the plot and begs to be analyzed further, so much so that it’s no magic trick being able to stay awake for the unappealing 3-hour and 2-minute running time.
It is a mostly dialogue dominated picture making use of its vibrant cast fleshing out their personas through the magic of the spoken word. Most of the script focuses on anecdote and daily discourse, but there is a hint of racial commentary peppered into the conversations that manages to add a bit of tension to the character interaction and authenticity to the discussion, being that the film takes place just decades following the Civil War.
It’s everything you would expect from Quentin Tarantino’s 8th feature film and yet it still manages to excite and surprise, catching you off guard with each gut wrenching turn of events. So if you think you’re up for it, clear 3 hours out of your schedule and kick off the new year with yet another Tarantino gem.
I give The Hateful Eight 3.5 of 4 stars.
