The Hateful Eight - The scoop and digest

Quentin Tarantino's directorial history is often erroneous.

Classic examples are Natural Born Killers, True Romance, Killing Zoe and From Dusk Till Dawn.

You could also add Hostel and tasteless sequel to the mix.

Incidentally, both briefly featured Pulp Fiction on television.

I wonder why?

As a huge slice of geekery, Red State was one of QT's favourite films of 2011 and quote "I freakin' love this movie" features on box art.

Can his eighth surpass the success of Django Unchained?

Samuel L. Jackson - Major Marquis Warren
Kurt Russell - John Ruth
Jennifer Jason Leigh - Daisy Domergue
Tim Roth - Oswaldo Mobray
Walton Goggins - Sheriff Chris Mannix
Michael Madsen - Joe Gage
Demián Bichir - Bob
Bruce Dern - General Sandford Smithers
James Parks - O.B.
Channing Tatum - Jody
Quentin Tarantino - Narrator

1. Last Stage to Red Rock

Sometime after the American Civil War, John Ruth is transporting wanted fugitive Daisy Domergue across Wyoming to hang at Red Rock and claim $10,000.

Fellow bounty hunter Major Warren hitches a ride.

2. Son of a Gun

Red Rock's new sheriff Chris Mannix is next to be picked up and tensions run high between he and Warren when the subject of war crops up.

3. Minnie's Haberdashery

As blizzard refuses to subside, coach takes refuge at said lodge.

There they meet hangman Oswaldo, Bob (a Mexican running the show in Minnie's absence), softly spoken cowboy Joe Gage and Sandford Smithers, a former Confederate General.

Immediately suspicious, Ruth disarms everybody apart from Warren.

Warren takes great pleasure in telling Smithers that before murdering his son, tortured bare ass and humiliated the poor bastard by forcing him to suck on 'dingus'.

Smithers loses when guns are drawn.

4. Domergue's Got a Secret

Daisy isn't distracted by Warren's spiel and notices somebody poisoning the jug of coffee.

O.B. and Ruth quench respective thirsts and soon vomit blood.  Daisy blows Ruth away, but Warren and Mannix contain the situation.

Bob is killed and Gage protects Daisy by admitting to making caffeine taste rather unpleasant.

After Warren's spuds are blasted by mystery geezer hiding in basement, Oswaldo and Gage are wounded in subsequent firefight.

5. The Four Passengers

Earlier that day...

Oswaldo, Gage, Bob and Jody (Daisy's brother) arrive at Haberdashery and murder all apart from Smithers.

In preparation to rescue Daisy, bodies are removed and guns concealed.

Upon hearing Ruth approaching, it's time to act natural while Jody waits patiently down below.

Last Chapter

Black Man, White Hell

Mannix and Warren hold Oswaldo, Gage and Daisy at gunpoint, but those in charge are shoulder deep in shit themselves.

Jody gives himself up and Warren literally blows brother's head clean off.

Daisy warns Mannix her 15 strong posse are waiting in Red Rock, but providing Warren is killed, things will be different.

Gage and Oswaldo kick the bucket and Daisy manages to remove handcuffs by hacking Ruth's arm off.

Unfortunately, Mannix unloads before she can.

Partners in crime hang Ms. Domergue and before presumably dying, Mannix reads Lincoln's forged letter aloud.

Holy shit!

How awesome was this?

I was totally engrossed from start to finish and three hours simply flew by.

Fascinating character study is driven by a fantastic script and tour de force performances.

Leads may sparkle, but special mentions must go to Single White Female and well spoken chap Mr. Orange.

What a shame room couldn't be made for Steve Buscemi and Harvey Keitel.

Maybe Winston Wolf was too busy selling Direct Line?

The influence of Reservoir Dogs rings true and surprisingly, so does The Thing.

Parts of Ennio Morricone's unused music from John Carpenter's 1982 classic is heard during penultimate gunfight and minus shape-shifting alien, chilly setting may as well be what surrounds Outpost 31.

All in all, undoubtedly Tarantino's best since Pulp Fiction.