The Hateful Eight (18)

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh

QUENTIN Tarantino returns to his roots with his eighth film, The Hateful Eight.

At first glance, the influential director's blood soaked western follows on neatly from his previous movie, Django Unchained.

That is certainly true of The Hateful Eight's look and feel but with most of the story taking place in the confines of an isolated shelter, the film has a lot in common with Tarantino's 1992 debut, Reservoir Dogs.

Both films are set in a claustrophobic hideout where lowlifes who do not trust each other are forced to interact.

But instead of Reservoir Dogs' jewel heist gone wrong, The Hateful Eight sees 19th century bounty hunters take refuge from a blizzard at 'Minnie's Haberdashery' in the middle of nowhere in Wyoming.

In a way, those thematic links between the two films take Tarantino full circle and they also share two of the same actors including Tim Roth and Michael Madsen.

But the filmmaker also continues to explore racial tensions bubbling under the surface with the film set a short time after the American Civil War.

Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Dern sizzle as Major Marquis Warren and General Sandy Smithers, two veterans on opposing sides of the conflict.

Kurt Russell plays merciless bounty hunter John Ruth who is holding fugitive Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) captive before she faces justice.

Walton Goggins' Chris Mannix claims to be the town's sheriff, eccentric Englishman Oswaldo Mobray says he is the hangman while Bob (Demian Bichir) insists he is standing in for the missing haberdashery owner, Minnie.

Then there is the mysterious Joe Gage (Michael Madsen) who sits in the corner and does not want to be disturbed.

There is a melting pot of tensions and betrayals in Tarantino's slow brooding drama which stands in contrast to the harsh winter outside.

And the director toys with viewers' perceptions of who you should trust and root for – if anyone.

The only downside is the three-hour film is very slow to get going but the set up provides for a satisfying reveal and some typically gory scenes.

There are also little clues for eagle-eyed viewers hinting at what has happened at the ill-fated cabin.

Samuel L. Jackson stands out as Major Marquis Warren who still has buckets of charisma, aged 67.

He is terrifying when he gets going with a performance which comes all from his eyes.

Tim Roth also shines as Oswaldo Mobray, the unlikely and exuberant hangman, while the excellent Walton Goggins provides comedy relief with his animated performance as Chris Mannix during some of the film's most heightened scenes.

RATING: 8.5/10

DAVID MORGAN