Kurt Russell’s Greatest Western Of 2015 Had Nothing To Do With Quentin Tarantino

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Kurt Russell is known for several excellent Western films, including two released in 2015. Fans who have followed his career from the beginning might be surprised to see him become a Western star later on. He originally gained recognition for his work in horror, action, and comedy movies.

Kurt Russell gained significant attention after appearing in a popular Western film from the 1990s, which opened doors for him to explore the genre in a variety of movies. In 2015, he starred in two very intense and violent Westerns, one of which was directed by Quentin Tarantino. But his other Western film released that year was even more impressive.

Kurt Russell’s Best 21st Century Western Is Bone Tomahawk

In 2015, Kurt Russell starred in the Western horror film Bone Tomahawk. The movie, directed by S. Craig Zahler, features Russell as Sheriff Franklin Hunt. His peaceful life is disrupted when a savage tribe attacks his town and kidnaps several residents, dragging them into the mountains.

The movie becomes intensely disturbing when Sheriff Hunt and a rescue team head into the mountains, only to discover the cave dwellers are not only savage, but also practice cannibalism, having already begun to eat those they’ve captured.

The movie is best described as a blend of Western and horror, similar to The Hills Have Eyes. However, Bone Tomahawk is just as disturbing and bleak, particularly when it comes to what happens to the character Hunt. It’s a truly shocking and unique take on the Western genre.

Violent movies with a lot of gore usually get negative reviews. But this film was an exception, earning mostly positive feedback and a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics noted it wasn’t for all audiences, but recommended it for Western fans looking for something new.

Bone Tomahawk also gained recognition during awards season. It was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards: Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (Richard Jenkins). Additionally, Kurt Russell received the Fangoria Chainsaw Award for his performance as Best Actor.

Kurt Russell Starred In Quentin Tarantino’s Hateful Eight The Same Year

Let me tell you, Kurt Russell had a busy 2015 when it came to Westerns! While I personally think Bone Tomahawk was his strongest performance that year, it definitely got lost in the shuffle. It was completely overshadowed by The Hateful Eight, and honestly, that’s not surprising – it was a Quentin Tarantino film, after all. Everyone was talking about The Hateful Eight, and Bone Tomahawk, as great as it was, just didn’t get the same level of attention.

Because Quentin Tarantino directed it, The Hateful Eight was sure to be a hit. In contrast, Bone Tomahawk came from a lesser-known director and was a smaller, more independent Western film. The Hateful Eight tells the story of eight strangers who find themselves stuck together at a stagecoach stop during a blizzard.

Both Bone Tomahawk and The Hateful Eight featured impressive casts. Bone Tomahawk starred Kurt Russell alongside actors like Richard Jenkins and Patrick Wilson, but The Hateful Eight boasted an even more extensive group of stars, including Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Roth, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Bruce Dern, as well as Channing Tatum and Walton Goggins.

Despite having a stronger cast and benefiting from Quentin Tarantino’s skillful direction and writing, this film didn’t quite reach the heights of his earlier work. In fact, The Hateful Eight isn’t even his best Western; that honor goes to the much better Django Unchained, with Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz.

Although many consider Bone Tomahawk the stronger film, The Hateful Eight also has a dedicated following. Bone Tomahawk received more awards overall, but The Hateful Eight garnered Academy Award nominations. Jennifer Jason Leigh was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, and Robert Richardson and Ennio Morricone received nominations for their work in cinematography and music, respectively.

Ennio Morricone received numerous awards, including an Oscar, Golden Globe, British Academy Film Award, and Critics’ Choice Movie Award, and was even nominated for a Grammy. In contrast, Kurt Russell’s only award came for his work on the film Bone Tomahawk.

Kurt Russell Has Proven To Be a Perfect Modern-Day Cowboy

Kurt Russell became a major star in the 1980s, and eventually became known as a Westerns actor. But if you look at his career, it seems he was always destined for that role. He actually started with Westerns very early on, landing his first leading role in the 1964 film Guns of Diablo when he was just 13 years old. After that, he became known for comedies for a while.

Kurt Russell’s career took off in 1981 with the sci-fi action film Escape from New York, which led to a successful collaboration with director John Carpenter. Together, they made the classic horror film The Thing in 1982 and the exciting kung fu movie Big Trouble in Little China in 1986. After these films, Russell became known primarily as a star in action, science fiction, and horror genres.

I have to say, seeing Kurt Russell in Tombstone was a real surprise! He played Wyatt Earp, and it was amazing alongside Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday. That movie was a huge hit, and honestly, it’s still one of my favorites – a true modern Western classic. The dialogue is just fantastic, and Val Kilmer absolutely nailed his performance.

Kurt Russell isn’t just great in action, sci-fi, and horror – he truly shines in Westerns too. He demonstrated this in 2015 with two films: the well-known The Hateful Eight and the fantastic, but often overlooked, Bone Tomahawk.

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2026-01-31 00:50