Summary

Netflix is now streaming the Western horror movie,Bone Tomahawk, which includes a star-studded cast led by Kurt Russell. The 2015 movie is the directorial debut of S. Craig Zahler, who has since madeBrawl in Cell Block 99andDragged Across Concrete.Bone Tomahawktells the story of Sheriff Franklin Huntas he gathers a team to go save three people who have been kidnapped by a cannibalistic cult of Indigenous people. Upon its release, the movie earned positive reviews, praising the acting and slow-burn storytelling.Bone Tomahawkhas a 91%on Rotten Tomatoes.

Bone Tomahawk’ssuccess is reliant on two aspects of the movie: the plot and the acting. S. Craig Zahler infuses the film with a horror movie tension that audiences don’t often see in a Western movie. Furthermore, Zahler never tries to rush his story or cut corners. It is thoughtful, gripping, and impressive. However, none of this would really be possible without the participation of some amazing actors.Kurt Russell and his co-stars manage to bring just the right about of dramato makewatchingBone Tomahawka unique and unforgettable experience.

A collage of cannibals kicking a man, a closeup of Franklin Hunt, and a skull

Why Bone Tomahawk’s Death Scene Is So Gruesome

Bone Tomahawk earned a reputation for its inclusion of a very gruesome death scene that pulled no punches with those who dared to watch.

Kurt Russell As Sheriff Franklin Hunt

Date Of Birth: July 04, 2025

Actor:Kurt Russell was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. Russell’s career began at a very young age when he took on the starring role in the Western TV show,The Travels of Jamie McPheeters.His success with that show led him to sign a 10-year contract with Disney. After that,Russell truly entered Hollywood when he appeared as Elvis Presleyin the 1979 miniseries,Elvis.Over the years, Russell took on a number of roles in differing genres.Kurt Russell’s best moviesinclude his collaborations with legendary director, John Carpenter, includingThe Thingand Escape from New York.

Kurt Russell worked onBone Tomahawkat the same time asThe Hateful Eight.

Bone Tomahawk Cast around Kurt Russell as Sheriff Hunt

The Hateful Eight

John Ruth

Character:InBone Tomahawk,Kurt Russell plays Sheriff Franklin Hunt.Hunt is like any sheriff in a Western movie: serious, determined, and good with a gun. However, Russell brings a sense of sacrifice to Hunt that raises the stakes even higher by the end of this Western horror.

Patrick Wilson As Arthur O’Dwyer

Date Of Birth: August 07, 2025

Actor:Patrick Wilson was born in Norfolk, Virginia. He started his acting career in the mid-90s by performing in Broadway musicals. His stage career then morphed into a movie career. One of his first notable movie roles was Raoul de Chagny in 2004’sPhantom of the Opera.However,Wilson’s true breakout came in 2010when he became the face of theInsidiousmovie franchise. Since then, he is best known for his work in James Wan horror movies.

The Conjuring

Ed Warren

Character:Patrick Wilson plays Arthur O’Dwyer inBone Tomahawk.ThoughArthur suffers from a leg injuryat the very start of the film, he perseveres in order to find his missing wife. Arthur may not be the strongest link, but he certainly comes in handy when the going gets rough.

Matthew Fox As John Brooder

Date Of Birth: June 13, 2025

Actor:Matthew Fox was born in Abington, Pennsylvania. Fox’s career began as most do, with supporting roles in various television series. Yet, his big break came when he earned a role in the 1994 teen drama,Party of Five.Soon after,Fox’s career launched even higher when he took on the starring role of Jack ShephardinLost.When the show ended, he appeared in a handful of movies, includingBone Tomahawk.Though Fox took a break from acting in 2015, he returned to television in 2021.

Bone Tomahawk

John Brooder

Character:InBone Tomahawk,Fox plays John Brooder.Brooder is a well-known gunslinger. Of course, that makes him the perfect ally for Sheriff Hunt on his mission to save the victims of the cannibal tribe. Brooder is stubborn, but sticks to his morals, no matter the cost.

Richard Jenkins As Deputy Chicory

Date Of Birth: August 05, 2025

Actor:Richard Jenkins was born in DeKalb, Illinois. Starting in 1974,Jenkins had a consistent acting career, taking on supporting roles in a diverse number of movies. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that he truly began to stand out. Namely, his breakout came in 2002 when he appeared as Nathaniel Fisher in the HBO drama,Six Feet Under.In 2007, he was also recognized for his starring role in the movie,The Visitor.One of the most recent projects Jenkins appeared in was thetrue crime show,Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

Lionel Dahmer

Character:Richard Jenkins plays Deputy Chicory.Chicory is Hunt’s right-hand man. This makes him the ideal candidate to accompany Hunt on his mission. Like Hunt, he is a skilled fighter.

Lili Simmons As Samantha O’Dwyer

Date Of Birth: July 08, 2025

Actor:Lili Simmons was born in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California. Her career began with minor roles in children’s and family television series such asZeke and LutherandJane by Design.Her first big role was as a rebellious Amish girl, Rebecca, inBanshee.From there, she went on to earn recurring roles inHawaii Five-0andTrue Detective.Most recently,Simmons took on the leading role inPower Book IV: Force.

Power Book IV: Force

Claudia Flynn

Character:InBone Tomahawk,Simmons plays Samantha O’Dwyer.Samantha is the wife of Arthur. She is one of the victims taken by the cannibals.

Evan Jonigkeit As Deputy Nick

Date Of Birth: July 08, 2025

Actor:Evan Jonigkeit was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He got his start in acting by appearing on Broadway in a 2011 play entitledHigh.A few years later, he transitioned into film.Jonigkeit’s first big role was inX-Men: Days of Future Past,in which he played Toad. From there, he took on notable roles in TV shows likeSweetbitterandFrontier.In the 2020s, he has also appeared in horror movies likeThe Night HouseandThe Empty Man.

When Evan Jongikeiy appeared onGirls,he met his future wife, Zosia Mamet.

Kurt-Russell-in-Tombstone

The Night House

Owen Parchin

Character:Evan Jonigkeit plays Deputy Nick inBone Tomahawk.While Chicory is Hunt’s right-hand man,Nick seems to be the deputy in training. He is young and inexperienced. He is another of the kidnapped victims of the cannibals.

David Arquette As Purvis

Date Of Birth: August 19, 2025

Actor:David Arquette was born in Bentonville, Virginia.Arquette’s career began in the 1990s with a number of guest spotson popular TV shows and movies likeNever Been Kissed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Beverly Hills 90210,andBlossom.His breakout role came soon enough when he appeared asDewey Riley in the iconic horror franchise,Scream.However, Arquette’s career did not end there. The actor has most recently appeared in the 2024 film,The Good Half.

The Good Half

Rick Barona

Character:InBone Tomahawk,Arquette plays Purvis.Purvis is a brigandwho is the first to come into contact with the cannibals. Though he finds himself somewhat safe in the custody of Sheriff Hunt, he is quickly kidnapped once again.

Bone Tomahawk’s Supporting Cast & Characters

Kathryn Morris as Lorna Hunt:Kathryn Morris plays Sheriff Hunt’s wife, Lorna Hunt, inBone Tomahawk.Morris is best known for starring as Lilly Rush inCold Case.She also appeared inA.I. Artificial IntelligenceandMinority Report.

Sid Haig as Buddy:Sid Haig plays Purvis' partner, Buddy, inBone Tomahawk.Haig has enjoyed a long career in horror movies, and is best known for his role as Captain Spaulding in Rob Zombie’s horror movies. He also took on guest and supporting roles in various television series throughout the 70s and 80s.

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Sean Young as Mrs. Porter:Sean Young portrays Mrs. Porter. Young is known for her roles in major science fiction franchises. This includes her performance as Rachael inBlade Runnerand Chani inDune.

Fred Melamed as Clarence:Fred Melamed is Clarence inBone Tomahawk.A renowned character actor, Melamed’s career began in voice acting, but later transitioned to on-screen performances. His most notable projects includeA Serious Man, Hail Caesar!, Wandavision,andBarry.

Maestro Harrell as Gizzard:Maestro Harrell plays Gizzard. Harrell is a rapper and actor. He appeared as Randy Wagstaff inThe Wireand took on important roles inGuys Like UsandSuburgatory.

Jamison Newlander as The Mayor:Jamison Newlander portrays The Mayor inBone Tomahawk.Newlander is most recognizable for his role as Alan Frog inThe Lost Boysfranchise.

James Tolkan as Pianist:James Tolkan took on the role of Pianist inBone Tomahawk.Though Tolkan has had parts in a number of movies from the 1970s to the 1990s, his most memorable role is that of high school principal Mr. Strickland in theBack to the Futurefranchise.

Jeremy Tardy as Buford:Jeremy Tardy plays Buford. Tardy has enjoyed numerous roles in film and television, includingDear White People, Ballers,and most recently,68 Whiskey.

“Low-Budget Western Epic”: Why Stephen King Is So Right About This Kurt Russell Horror Movie

Stephen King praised a Kurt Russell movie by calling it a “low-budget Western epic,” and he undoubtedly could not have been more right about the film.

Michael Paré as Mr. Wallington:Michael Paré plays Mr. Wallington inBone Tomahawk.Paré’s most significant movies includeEddie and the Cruisers, Streets of Fire,andThe Philadelphia Experiment.

Zahn McClarnon as The Professor:Zahn McClarnon is The Professor inBone Tomahawk.McClarnon has appeared in projects such asLongmire, Fargo, Westworld, Dark Winds,andReservation Dogs.

Michael Emery as Redheaded Fellow:Michael Emery appears as Redheaded Fellow. He has enjoyed a long career of minor roles in various television series and films. Some of the notable includeStation 19, Blue Bloods,andSneaky Pete.

Raw Leiba as Wolf Skull:Raw Leiba plays Wolf Skull inBone Tomahawk.Leiba is best-known for his role as Stringer Bell’s bodyguard inThe Wire.More recently, he has taken on minor roles inOur Flag Means DeathandThe Walking Dead.

Geno Segers as Boar Tusks:Geno Segers plays Boar Tusks. Segers has appeared inBanshee, Pair of Kings,andTeen Wolf.

Eddie Spears as Serrated Tomahawk:Eddie Spears is Serrated Tomahawk inBone Tomahawk.Spears' most recognizable projects includeGeronimo, Black Cloud, Hell on Wheels,andYellowstone.

Alex Meraz as Eagle Skulls:Alex Meraz plays Eagle Skulls inBone Tomahawk.Meraz is best known for his roles in theTwilightfranchise,Suicide Squad,andThe Walking Dead.

Jay Tavare as Sharp Teeth:Jay Tavare plays Sharp Teeth inBone Tomahawk.Tavare appeared as Vega in the film adaptation of the video game,Street Fighter.

Cast

Bone Tomahawk is a Western film that follows Sheriff Franklin Hunt, who gathers together a group of fighters to save three kidnapped victims from a clan of cannibals. After the town’s doctor is kidnapped along with two others, forcing the sheriff to partner with the town’s Native American professor and find the tribe before it’s too late.