Tense, Violent, Over-The-Top Thriller On Netflix Makes You Root For The Worst People
A slow-burning Western thriller drenched in paranoia, deception, and mounting tension that keeps you uncertain until the bloody finale.
By Robert Scucci | Published recently
Reflecting on Quentin Tarantino’s Film Legacy
Quentin Tarantino announced in 2012, during interviews for Django Unchained, that he intended to write and direct only ten movies before retiring. He described it as a way to end his career at his creative peak.
Since then, I’ve been following his filmography more thoughtfully, slowing down to appreciate each work as a piece of cinematic art. Up to that moment, I had seen all of his films. After his declaration, I took my time, allowing myself the pleasure of rediscovering his later projects.
The Hateful Eight: A Masterclass in Tension
I recently watched the 2015 release The Hateful Eight, Tarantino’s eighth film, and it has become my favorite in his catalog. The movie runs for 168 minutes—nearly three hours—yet not a single moment feels wasted.
There’s zero fat in this movie, and the tension comes from its brooding pace as everything slowly escalates to the point of no return.
While many lengthy films could be trimmed down to a tighter runtime between 90 and 120 minutes, this one demands its duration. The deliberate pacing, confined setting, and intricate dialogue create an oppressive atmosphere that traps the viewer inside its snowbound paranoia.
It’s a gruesome spectacle, but the violence is never senseless; it punctuates long stretches of measured silence, sharp exchanges, and subtle performances within the film’s claustrophobic environment.
Author Summary
This review praises Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight as a meticulous, dialogue-driven thriller where tension and confinement reach their peak in a blood-soaked Western masterpiece.