The Revenant Movie Review

Released: 25 December 2015 (Limited release in the United States)

Length: 156 Minutes

Certificate: 15

Director: Alejandro G. Inarritu

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domnhall Gleeson, Will Poulter, Forest Goodluck, and Grace Dove

The 1800s were a tough time for those living in the then unsettled region of the Louisiana Purchase; dangerous animals, hostile relations with native tribes, limited methods of defence and above all else, a battle with the freezing cold. These are just some of the many obstacles that Leonardo DiCaprio must face in The Revenant, an immensely harrowing and visceral struggle for survival.

Based on the book by Michael Punke and beginning on the banks of a frosty river and nearby forest, The Revenant follows a band of pelt hunters forced to flee following a devastating attack by the native Arikara tribe, cutting their numbers down by two thirds. After a frightful and deadly encounter with a grizzly bear, scout and hunter Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) slows the expedition down in their efforts to reach safety. A disgruntled member of the company, John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) manipulates the other members into leaving him for dead and after fleeing the scene, Hugh is left with nothing but his own wit and survival skills to find his way back and have his vengeance upon the man who wronged him. From the offset, The Revenant is very clear on what it wants to be; this is a rough, gritty and brutal foray through a relentlessly unforgiving setting. As Hugh Glass traverses it, the audience is subjected to an array of intensely realised moments; viscous fight scenes and death-defying escapes that populate the film’s plot. Alongside this, the pacing swaps between day and night with quick efficiency, putting across the extended time Glass spent out in the wilds. As the central protagonist wills himself to both survive and recover, The Revenant keeps a compelling narrative that you won’t be able to tear yourself away from.

The fairly compact cast of The Revenant keeps the narrative simple and easy to follow, with each member doing their part to make the characters believable. Leonardo DiCaprio is fantastic as Hugh Glass; he isn’t given too much to say throughout the film, so instead he relies on facial expression and body language. Every pain-staking injury and movement is vividly captured, which gets across the extreme predicament the character finds himself in. On the opposite side of the coin is Tom Hardy, who brings a suitably unlikeable opponent; Fitzgerald is especially devious, despite his rugged exterior. The other actors including Domnhall Gleeson and Will Poulter bring very clear and recognisable traits to their characters; with a dutiful Captain Andrew Henry and the young, inexperienced Jim Bridger being engaging in their own ways. One thing which I thought worked to the film’s benefit was its sense of ambiguity; Glass may be aiming to chase down Fitzgerald throughout the film, but all the characters have their own motivations and ways of life that often conflict. It is the frozen wasteland that really hampers the humans at every turn, and thanks to an innumerable amount of shots and angles that show off the sheer scale of the environment, it practically becomes a character itself. Even the Arikara tribe that attacks at the opening of the movie have their motivations and reasons for what they do.

What The Revenant accomplishes in terms of filmmaking technique is nothing short of astonishing; this really is one of the most absorbing films ever to be put on display. Every single element works to pull the audience in, making them feel as if they are in the frigid wastes with the characters. Following on from the director’s single-take technique in Birdman, every single shot in the film has been accomplished using natural lighting, with CGI being reserved to the creatures in the film. Whether it’s deer, bison or everything in between, the wildlife has been carefully composited into the film without disrupting the immersion on display. The film is also very creative with other shots as well; tracking shots for actions between characters pan around the environment, as well as several far and wide angles that show how nature towers over man. The make-up effects, particularly the often nasty and grievous injuries the characters receive are shown in excruciating detail, highlighting the disadvantages man once had in this untamed wilderness. Musically, the film is very sweeping, with simplistic tones that match the long ranged shots of the environments overhead. The level of quality from a production standpoint achieved here is unbelievable, one of the best looking and sounding cinematic visions I’ve ever seen.

By every definition of filmmaking, The Revenant succeeds marvellously; rarely do we receive a historical epic to this degree of excellence. Go see it, and get sucked into one of the most nail-biting movie experiences you’ll have this year.

Rating: 5/5 Stars