This is a sad, slow, and brutally violent film. A lot of deaths occur with regularity, and they don’t spare the viewer the ugliness of it. People scream, cry, wail, and lose their minds. The soldiers dig a lot of graves.
There’s also very little conversation. While a lot of plot happens, watching Hostiles is still an interminable, funereal slog, full of torture, rape, killings, and makeshift memorial services. Who exactly are the titular “Hostiles”? [pullquote position=”right”]It’s clear that both sides in the conflicts of the Western Expansion can shoulder the blame.[/pullquote] With Den of Thieves from last week, this is now two consecutive movies where a knife blade’s width divides the good guys and the bad. I don’t think this is exactly a fresh theme, but the message is clear and well-told.
The director took his time to develop the story, which is one good thing. The music and location settings (in New Mexico and Colorado) were also nicely done. I can’t fault the acting in any way.
Join the PERA (Personal Entertainment Research Assistant) waitlist.
The World's Most Indispensable Movie App
The RunPee app tells you the best times to
run & pee during a movie
so you don't miss the best scenes.
Download the RunPee app.
100% free (donation supported)
It’s just not a happy tale at all…ever. There are no moments of levity, and many grim ones. In times like these, it’s not something I’d choose for entertainment. Good production values and fine storytelling make this a better film than the usual, so I’ll give it a B.
Movie Grade: B
What people are saying
about the RunPee app.
This is a great app. I wish more people would support it
This app provides info about movies, reviews, ratings from people who have seen it before and after viewing. It has links to info about the movies. It let's you know when there will be a lull in the action and how long it will last. If you want to know what happens during that time, you can check the brief synopsis (you have to click a link, so no accidental spoilers). It has a timer you can set (silent) to alert you to a break. It also tells you whether there is anything extra during or after the credits. It's really a wonderful app. I've subscribed for a couple of years to support the developers, but I noticed some of the links to provide feedback didn't seem to work today. They also made it free, with voluntary donations to see the pee-times. If you haven't tried it, I encourage you to do so, and subscribe if you like it. I really hope the app is supported so it can continue to be maintained!
Developers note: RunPee doesn't make much money but it supports itself nicely. Donations are appreciated, but not required. We'll add as many movies to the database as we can until there are no more movie theaters.
View all reviews
Apple App Store | Google Play Store
Download RunPee app
Co-Creator of RunPee, Chief of Operations, Content Director, and Managing Editor. RunPee Jilly likes galaxy-spanning sci fi, superhero sagas, fantasy films, YA dystopians, action thrillers, chick flicks, and zany comedies, in that order…and possesses an inspiringly small bladder. In fact, that little bladder sparked the creation of RunPee. (Good thing she’s learned to hold it.)