10 Most Intense Gunfights In Westerns

Quentin Tarantino's second western film is a masterfully executed, if nihilistic piece of work. The Hateful Eight follows a collection of characters trapped in a cabin during a snowstorm. Here, the tension rises with deadly consequences. It can be argued that the running time is too long, and there is the usual controversy of Tarantino's violence, but what can never be held against the film is the tense gunfights.

It is a shame then that the film's best gunfight comes before the finale, but still late on in the film. We finally get our explanation as to why the cabin is as it is. We see three of the eight in the cabin back when it was in service. The whole section is tense as the audience now knows what is going to happen.

It is only when a certain guest star arrives on the scene that the slaughter begins. Slaughter being the right word as this gunfight in particular feels very one sided. Taking inspiration from the great Sergio Leone, we are treated to long shots and slow edits, ending in an explosion of action. Adding in Tarantino's dialogue and blood effects makes the scene all the more enjoyable.

The Hateful Eight is far from the best film in Tarantino's filmography, and it isn't as good as Django Unchained, but it is a memorable experience that deserves a watch.