User reviews

A lot of what the characters do makes very little sense. For example the protagonist seemingly has one central goal but then stops to do a good deed that almost destroys everything. A good deed that also has a giant Afro in frontier times? Juliette Lewis' huge lips are also very distracting. Decent story and shot beautifully but things like these pulled me out of the movie.

Peter Dinklage kills it as he does 100% of the time. Great to see him in this unique role and hope he gets more like it in the future.

This paragraph is just to make my review long enough for the new six hundred character requirement instituted because Amazon's $1Billion snow ranked and got bombed on this site. Hopefully they change it back because this is a waste of my and everyone else's time for quite literally absolutely no reason. Boom six hundred characters.

The Thicket (2024) is a gritty Western thriller that has its moments but ultimately falls short of its potential. Based on Joe R. Lansdale's novel, the film sets up an intriguing premise: a young man seeking to rescue his kidnapped sister, teaming up with a bounty hunter and a quirky group of outcasts. The cast, led by Peter Dinklage, gives solid performances, especially Dinklage, who brings a grizzled charm and intensity to his role. Juliette Lewis also shines in her eccentric supporting part (on par with the performance of Dinklage, or even better).

Visually, the film captures the rough, unforgiving world of the frontier, with a stark and at times beautiful atmosphere. There's a tangible sense of danger and lawlessness, enhanced by a strong score that keeps the tension simmering.

However, despite these positives, The Thicket feels uneven. The pacing drags in places, with long stretches where not much happens. Some of the supporting characters, while entertaining, don't get enough depth to feel fully realized. I found the meeting with some characters rushed too. The plot, which starts strong, becomes somewhat predictable, relying on familiar Western tropes without offering much new to the genre.

Overall, The Thicket has moments of grit and character, but its inconsistent pacing and lack of fresh storytelling prevent it from being more than an average watch. It's worth seeing if you're a fan of the genre or the actors involved, but it doesn't quite leave a lasting impact.

Set against the unforgiving backdrop of the Wild West, The Thicket tells the story of a mismatched group of individuals: Reginald Jones, a bounty hunter portrayed by Peter Dinklage; his loyal sidekick Eustace, played by Gbenga Akinnagbe; Jack, who enlists their help to rescue his kidnapped sister (Levon Hawke); Lula, the sister in peril (Esme Creed-Miles); and the menacing outlaw Cut Throat Bill, brought to life by Juliette Lewis.

This film evokes memories of Sergio Corbucci's spaghetti Westerns, yet it opts for a more subdued palette, emphasizing the darker aspects of its narrative and employing somber cinematographic techniques. It is only towards the conclusion that the visuals begin to brighten.

The storyline is populated with nefarious characters and unstable individuals, all too willing to inflict harm on anyone displaying courage or a strong moral compass. Consequently, the innocent siblings endure their share of hardships before they learn to adapt and survive in this brutal, unforgiving environment. Their plight is compounded by the tragic loss of their parents to smallpox and the murder of their grandfather (Guy Sprung) by Bill, which sets off this harrowing journey.

In summary, this film is likely to captivate those in search of a chilling, action-packed thriller that embraces its brutality and mercilessness with a haunting, macabre flair. Enjoy!

If you like westerns, you got to see it!

Peter Dinklage is amazing in it. Every attempt Dinklage makes to be a Bonafide leading man has never failed! He's shown time and time again that he has the chops, and this movie is no different.

But Juliette Lewis! This was a surprise indeed! Not saying she has not proven herself a good actor as well, but man! She locked down one of the best bad guy performances I ever scene. It's one of those things where the internet is going to need to make a click bait list of most underrated Villains in cinematic history just so they can put Cutthrought Bill on the list persuading the cult status.

Last but not least (well actually...) Jame Hetfeild. I have to admit I'm a big enough fan of Metallica to put in the effort to see this in theatres (which may not have been the cheapest choice considering its a Tubi original film and might be released on the format in a few days for free). Everything I know about Hetfeild is that he took a long time to come out of his shell to try holding some lines in a film, but he does it and does it well enough. It was fun seeing him act.

Surprisingly and oddly unique as a western too taking place in what must of have the very end of the wild west. No dates were given but it is interesting to see cars and bikes in a western. I'm guessing 1910 or 1911.

Anyway, it can drag along some times but overall, it was worth sitting though.

For the press run that Peter went on to sell this thing, I was expecting more. I love Juliette Lewis (The Other Sister, From Dusk 'Till Dawn) and she basically carries the entire film. In my opinion, Peter Dinklage gives an unmemorable performance here yet shines in comparison to the rest of the somewhat unknown cast.

As far as Tubi movies go, this is a decent watch. I just felt like there was something missing. As far as westerns go, this one just doesn't feel like it has a lot of grit. I remember watching an interview with Peter where he recalls one of the producers wanting a character in the film to have a "James Hetfield" look (lead singer of Metallica, for those who don't know) and Peter suggested that they just get James Hetfield to do the movie. Well, there is probably a reason why they suggested a professionally trained actor who looks like Hetfield, rather than Hetfield himself. He does an okay job, even kind of bad at times.

I don't want to get political with this review, but I feel like this needs to be addressed. I understand that every movie can't be Django Unchained. I also understand that life imitates art and visa versa, and we are trying to create a better world here. But there is something inside of me that is crying out every time I watch a period piece made in modern times. It seems like Hollywood is desperately trying to rewrite history to make America's past seem way less racist and horrible than it is. This is a pretty good example of that. There is ZERO racial tension in the film, despite the fact that two out of the five characters are African American who go up against some of the frontier's nastiest outlaws. To my knowledge it isn't even mentioned and I didn't know that Reginald's (Dinklage) counterpart Eustace (Gbenga Akinnagbe) is an ex-slave until I read that in the film's description. No one else in the film mentions it at all. It's not a huge issue, it just feels kind of disrespectful to the people in that time who suffered the horrible atrocities of slavery. I just really don't like the white washing of American history. Sorry, rant over.

Another part of this movie that I didn't enjoy is seeing Andrew Schulz in the film. I don't like this man's comedy, I don't care for his podcast, and I think that he does a middling job here. He also sports the exact same haircut and mustache that we see in modern times which feels out of place. I remember a golden age of film where truly talented actors was enough to get people to see your film. Now we're at a point where we are relying on YouTube stars to get people to watch. It makes me kind of sad honestly.

I really wanted to like this movie more than I did. The cinematography is pretty good, despite the fact they use plenty of cheat codes (filming a western and using a winter backdrop, for example). I saw this for free so I guess beggar's can't be choosers, but I found this film to be average at best.

I really dislike giving bad reviews for movies as they are quite difficult to produce but this film takes the cake for the hard-to-watch event at the end of summer.

I barely made it to the main title screen. The characters seemed bland, boring, and uninteresting; pick any word from that lot and you'll catch the vibe. To hear that this was Dinklage's passion project just really drives home that urge to want this to be good but underdelivers and then-some.

Sad to see it but even worse, can't get through ten minutes. I swear to God it would do some of these writers justice to write interesting characters so that we the viewer can be enthralled with what we are watching intead of bore us to death.

Nasty is the word I would use to describe this. Not worth your time.

How many great westerns have you watched & can remember the soundtrack theme ? Almost every great western uncannily has a great soundtrack... this films music is well made & from a talented composer, yet is utterly forgettable while also often intrusive & overblown.

This is certainly one of the worst 'westerns' I've ever seen.

(after seeing 300+ Spaghetti/Euro & many 100's of American ones) I am only reviewing it here as a warning to others who love Spaghetti/Euro Westerns (which this film is a drab imitation of), classic westerns ...& films in general !

This film is the dregs... an overload in stupidity, that could have been entertaining if it wasn't so utterly humorless & predictable. I only sat through it to test my endurance levels & grimace at the dire script, which is seemingly written by a person trapped in a world of z-grade cartoon fantasies & TV trash.

The idea for this film is another RESCUE mission with a bit of bounty hunting & revenge thrown in. It has been done many hundreds of times already, and there is nothing original in this film to add to anything, despite its lesbian arch enemy played by an almost incomprehensible Juliette Lewis. I had to put sub titles on to comprehend what anyone was mumbling during this.

Nothing about it is memorable apart from its incredible unbelievability, & poor filmatic choices. The Direction is bland, the characters rubbish, even Dinklage's, which had some promise at first.

Compare this films to any of the Spaghetti Western 'gems' from 1964-74 (ish) . The Great Silence, California, Four of the Apocalypse, for example, which all have similarities with this film yet ultimately they are different creatures.

This may all seem like a personal/subjective dismissal reliant on simply my TASTE in films, although if you consider the ridiculous events in the opening scenes my disgruntlement should be universal for discerning movie-viewers.

Here are the notes I made of unbelievable stupidity in the film-

1- daft girl stands unmoving in the middle of the road, while a motorbike drives at speed straight towards her from over a distance of about half a mile.

2- the Motorbike can drive at speed on SNOW & ICE !

3- Barge-keepers don't maintain or check their equipment. Have no weapons for defence. Have a single strand , thin rope for barge pulling.

4- Barge puller continues trying to wind the rope while a stand-off is occurring.

5-The grandfather allows a vicious gang to approach his family & tells them they will have to wait until he's used the barge .

6- Granddad pulls a gun on the gang leader who he knows has a vicious reputation.... ...then he shoots at the leader of gang while her back is turned.

...and misses from a few feet, only skimming her ear.

7- She isn't deafened by the shot.

8-He puts his gun down, then says he isn't armed while she shoots him.

9- The boy tries to stop a lynch mob... & gets knocked out.

10-Town Boss provokes a fight over $1

11- Sends gang after Dinklage over a deserved humiliation knowing how skilled Dinklage is.

12- Dinklage & mate are short of money, yet leave a horse after killing its rider.

13- The F-WORD swearing is tiresome, unimaginative & unrealistic , people never swore like that until later in the 20th C .

Better curses could have been used without needing to resort to that DEADWOOD tactic of anachronistic EFFECT over FACT.

14- The stupid kidnapped girl can't fire a gun at point blank range to shoot the gang leader that killed her grand-dad & (as far as she knows) her brother.

There's more, but the BROTHEL RESCUE scene is possibly the most preposterous. Looking back on it, there are so many stylish ways it could have been done by a skilled film maker & script. Instead the idiot Christian Hypocrite protagonist takes her through the main bar area & tries to walk out of the main doors !

In bright but dark western "The Thicket" Levon Hawke's sis Esme Creed-Miles is taken by notorious crim Juliette Lewis (so good again) & her gang - so Hawke teams with Peter Dinklage (also great), Gbenga Akinnagbe & Leslie Grace to hunt them down across bleak snowy terrain... while they themselves are hunted by James Hetfield (yes, him) & Macon Blair. Characters, dialogue and the relatively simple plot are all well written by first-timer Chris Kelley (based on Jon R Lansdale's novel) and it's superbly directed in his trademark ethereal yet gritty style by the classy Elliott Lester (who's growing a solid reputation). Terrific fare, especially for western genre fans.

If you haven't already, I highly recommend the original novel. The characters are much more hashed out, there is actual growth and change as the story progresses. The main story line more or less follows the novel, however, there is none of the emotional punch that the book was excellent at delivering. There is little chemistry among the main protagonists.

It all felt very rushed getting slotted into a 100 minute runtime. It has the same feeling of the failed "Dark Tower" film with Idris Elba. The actors gave it their best with a weak screenplay. Given the pull Peter Dinklage has, this should have been a 6-8 episode miniseries on HBO.

I enjoyed the cinematography and music-they both really stood out. The visuals were captivating, with thoughtful camera work and lighting that set a strong mood. The music perfectly matched the scenes, enhancing the overall vibe and making it more immersive. But the story didn't quite hit the mark for me. It felt like it lacked depth or didn't fully connect, which left me wanting more from the narrative. So, visually and sonically, it was impressive, but the storyline just didn't leave as strong an impact.

I enjoyed the cinematography and music-they both really stood out. The visuals were captivating, with thoughtful camera work and lighting that set a strong mood. The music perfectly matched the.

The story and plot was easy to become invested in. It has gritty, interesting, and engaging characters. The story is compelling, violent, raw, and unpredictable. The outlaws were very bad, and the good guys felt like real people. There were many very tense and exciting scenes. The scenery and settings were authentic to a turn of the century rustic western era. The character acting was flawless throughout. I also quite enjoyed the music track. Overall, this movie was well written, well made, well acted, engaging, interesting and worthwhile. I can easily recommend it, but, it's not suitable for children.

I don't know the underlying novel, so for me this film had to stand on it's own and it did ao beautifully. I am a huge Western fan and this compares in many ways "Unforgiven" in that the moral separation between the villains and the heroes can be razor thin. In this time of superhero movies, it's great to see deeply flawed characters in the center if things.

The film is a beautifully shot Western with stunning exteriors, a must for the genre. The acting is universally strong. I thought Peter Dinklage in a Western might be a stretch, butbhe was great in the film and utterly believable.

Solid, believable action sequences keep the tention high. Add to that a great villain and you have a movir I highly recommend.

I love Joe R Lansdale's writing and this film definitely captures the soul and spirit of his work. I may be in the minority regarding my next statement but it's how I feel: it all starts on the page. Elliott Lester did a great job with this film but it would've never existed without the written words of Joe Lansdale. It was a passion project for Peter Dinklage and oh lord did he deliver. Yes it's a Western but it's also so much more than that. Juliette Lewis gives an Oscar-worthy performance as Cut Throat Bill. You have to be ready to step into the darkness. Tarantino definitely "borrowed" elements of Lansdale's writing style. Tons of bizarre violence and a lot of deep character study, delving into the minds of outlaws. Some hilarious dialogue from the warped mind of Lansdale. Great cinematography. Watch it on the big screen.

Wow.... Blew me away. Everyone in it is spectacular! From the moment you see the first frame you know you are in for a wild ride. It's so rare to see a Western this modern. Juliette Lewis and Peter Dinklage are first rate (no surprise there). The tension is high and the characters are unique .

The violence is palpable and you get a true sense of the old west. The icy, snowy atmosphere draws chills. We saw it in theaters and it really felt like it belonged on the big screen. It was a very quick ride, and we didn't look at our phones once. Altogether, we loved it and would rate it as one of my favorite westerns of the last few years.

I nearly gave up in the first 10 minutes, they are so badly shot and cut.

"Oh god, is this going to be an IFC Midnight effort?" did I say.

But we held on. And suddenly. Without warning. We were watching this most *brilliant* film!!

It snuck up on us.

It's like the opening was done by somebody else in post, without any connection to rest of the project.

This really is a good film, it's an excellent film, it's possibly even a masterpiece. I don't know, I'll have to watch it again some day after the reality distortion has warn off.

It's trippy-as, and in that it reminds me of Dead Man by Jim Jarmusch. Another, excellent, 'Art Western'.

The Thicket seeeeeethes. It's a slow, increasingly nervous build to what you know is going to be one hell of a confrontation.

But it doesn't bore you, or even trust you! It gives you some stuff to entertain you with your popcorn along the way. It is full of awesome scenes!

Lewis deserves every kind of award for Cutthroat Bill.

Dinklage deserves the highest praise in the land for making the project happen.

All of the cast turned in superb performances.

The cinematography who cares (it doesn't even rate a mention these day - yes it's great in this film but it's good in complete piles of sludge too, often it's the only good thing about them).

The music is wonderful - it's like Brian/Roger Eno, or occasionally Boards of Canda. Electronic but not Ironic, it's subtle as hell, used sparingly and suits the mood.

From the absurd 5.something score on here I am guessing that nobody has seen The Thicket.

We need to get the word out and fix that!