Director Quentin Tarantino is one of the most eccentric personalities in filmmaking, and time after time he has proved himself to be an absolute master at what he does, and “The Hateful Eight” just serves to further cement his legacy in the movie world.

Eight strangers are forced to take shelter in an old mountain cabin in the thick of an intense blizzard. But not everyone is who they claim to be, which fogs up the movie in mystery and paranoia. No Tarantino film is without its overabundance of violence or quotable and snappy dialogue, so what truly sets “Hateful Eight” apart from his other films is the tension. For the first half of the film, we have no idea who we can trust. It feels like a western version of “The Thing,” where anyone can be the villain at any moment.   

But therein lies the biggest issue I had with the film. We don’t actually live with that mystery for very long in the scope of the film. It doesn’t take much for us to figure out the mystery, and then the movie is much more of a compelling exercise in acting and less of a thrilling story.

That’s not to suggest that it’s not enjoyable to watch brilliant actors perform a remarkable script, but the intensity of the film more or less drops off the mountain once the big reveal takes place. “Hateful Eight” is an excellent film, but not quite as excellent as some of his earlier films.

Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell were the standout performances. In a cast of truly stellar actors, they managed to really shine and carried the film for the most part. Jennifer Jason Leigh also stole the show in several scenes. She managed to be one of the most terrifying people in that cabin, despite being chained up most of the time.

Tarantino has long been known for his absolute distaste for digital filmmaking, and as such, filmed “Hateful Eight” on 70 mm film. The incredibly wide frame shows beautiful detail in the landscapes and gets particularly intimate with close-ups and interior shots. For a film that takes place primarily in one room, the cinematography never allowed the world of the film to become stagnant and boring.

Beyond the film itself, the road-show experience that Tarantino created harkens back to another age in filmmaking. Going to see a movie was an event, complete with programs and an intermission. The amazing overture of the score composed by Ennio Morricone welcomes you to the experience in a truly unique way and is well worth the ticket price to see on the big screen.

While it may not be the strongest work in Tarantino’s filmography, “The Hateful Eight” still stands out as one of the best films of the year and will always be an audience experience I remember. Go see the road show, it’s a rare opportunity and is well worth it.