The Hateful Eight: My Favourite Suspense Film

The CineTV Community released This Prompt a few days ago, asking us to talk about favourite suspense film. I have been mulling this over since reading the prompt initially, and for the most part, I was stumped.

The first film that came to mind was Shutter Island, which I saw in the cinema back when it released, but I kind of can't remember a hell of a lot about the film, so would rather not discuss it in depth. Second, I thought of Inception, which I watched a few months after it came out, I liked it, but again, I couldn't really remember much about it off the top of my head, other than it being about dreams within dreams. It's a tough choice in fairness, and then it hit me like a ton of bricks.

Source

The Hateful Eight
I first seen it upon release in the cinema and multiple times since. It's one of those films that stuck with me and I can remember so much of the film even after a few years without seeing it.

To be honest, these CineTV contests are a good opportunity to go back and re-watch some great films that I haven't seen in a while. Sadly - prior to writing this - I didn't get a chance to re-watch it, but here goes.

The Setting
Set in the late 1800s, The Hateful Eight introduces us to a few characters in a situation. Right off the bat, we're shown that this is a western, but instead of being a typical Spaghetti Western, with duels at high noon, and the warn faces of cowboys battling dust storm, and searing heat.

Instead, we open to ominous locations. Each of the establishing shots fills us with dread, and if the shots alone don't convey the feelings of loneliness and fear, Ennio Morricone's theme does help to allow the tone of the film's location and setting, set in.

Right from the start, we have a feeling of what to expect, but at the same time, we feel like a stranger in a strange land. Desolate, barron, and devoid of life. We wait, as the camera hangs on shots for what feels like a lifetime before we're introduced to the characters.

Here's the opening of the film, for anybody who hasn't seen it, or hasn't seen it in a while.

We're then introduced to a carriage making its way through this frozen land. This film fills us with the feeling of isolation from the moment we see the first images, and we can almost feel the chill from the bitter cold. Instantly, I just assume that this takes place somewhere out in the frontier, and as the characters start talking, we know that they're miles from anywhere.

Within the first few minutes of the film, we know that Kurt Russel's character - John 'The Hangman' - is a bounty hunter, transporting Jennifer Jason Leigh's character - Daisey Domergue into town to be hanged. At some point before the opening, we find out through dialogue that they picked up Samual L. Jacksons' character - Major Marquis Warren - whose horse died in the storm.

Slowly, we're introduced to the cast, and while the film's cast is relatively small, each of the characters is written amazingly, and each one of them seems to have something to hide or a reason not to trust each other.

The Main Location
Nearly the entire film takes place in one location, Minnie's Haberdashery, which is a small isolated place, and is the only known shelter available to stop for a rest and get out of the storm that catches up to the characters.

Everything feels off from the start, and the tension seems to build quickly among everyone - especially since they're pretty much stranded inside Minnies place - the first time we realise as the audiance that somethings not right, is when Maquis starts to ask about Minnie and the fact that she isn't home. The other guests who were already there try to answer, but it doesn't sit well with Marquis or us as the audiance, for that matter.

While they start to explore the location, and more importantly - interrogate each other - we are left on the edge of our seats, as we try to piece together any clues we're given.

I think a film that can hold your attention, and be gripping, due only to the characters and dialogue between them, is a testament to great filmmaking, acting, and writing.

Suspense
As far as most films go, I think The Hateful Eight is purposefully suspenseful. We're left wondering who we can trust, and what's going on, but regardless of feeling a little bit lost, we're okay with being taken for a ride... get it? Like horse-riding... because it's a cowboy film.

Two weeks in a row, and I've spoken about two Tarantino films. I didn't do it on purpose, and I'm sure next week I'll branch out a bit and talk about one of the many other great filmmakers out there.

I find this one great though, and I think it certainly deserves to be spoken about due to the suspenseful nature of it, and the fact that it fits in well with this prompt. Also, the fact that he got Ennio Morricone in on this film is cool too, especially for anyone who loves a good Western.

Personally, Hateful Eight stands as an example to Hollywood in general. People don't need big overblown action and world-ending stakes. We just need a well-crafted story, well-written characters, great actors, concise direction, and a world of detail that we can get lost in for a while; even if it is only set in one location.