Bloody Hilarious

Rating: 9/10 (8 January 2016)

Since his groundbreaking debut Reservoir Dogs, Hateful Eight is Tarantino's first film that's readymade to be performed on stage. Less cinematic than anything the blockbuster-auteur has done in two decades, Hateful Eight spends its lengthy runtime focusing on its charactersand what characters they are. Lovingly written with a clear grasp on its densely layered story, Tarantino passionately unravels and unhinges the levels of his tale, while maintaining his signature eye for geeky detail and meticulous backstory. The end product is an immersive chamber western that worms its way into your brain long after the bloody and hilarious affair has ended. As with each of Tarantino's films, it's bursting with capital 'C' Character, making it a breeze to spend 3 hours in this world. The small-ish cast is packed full of giant performances, each one bringing a different level of craze to their character. Leigh, in particular, quietly steals every moment as a grown-up and deeply disturbed murderess version of Ally Sheedy from Breakfast Club. Not that she's the only standout; in fact, there really isn't a hate-able role in the bunch, as a palpable sense of danger underscores every character beat and interaction. Above all, we get Tarantino's calling cards: vibrant dialogue and devilish violence. It may as well have been called "The Bloody Eight", as it's among his most demented films. However, the Christ imagery and thematic focus on America's racial history reminds us that there is more on this movie's mind than simple blood-and-guts. Full of surprises, The Hateful Eight is a darkly delightful mystery that makes us ponder the things we're willing to die for.