MovieChat Forums > The Hateful Eight (2015) Discussion > Just rewatched it. One of Tarantinos bes...

Just rewatched it. One of Tarantinos best and near remake of 'The Thing'

posted a year ago by bozo_500 (13105)
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just rewatched THE last night for first time since when it came out in 2015 (when saw it on dvd only not cinema) , aside remembering a few scenes (the opening in the carriage, the coffee scene) it was pretty much like watching it for first time, literally did not know who was who or how it would pan out. Enjoyed it alot more than remember, when thought it was abit meh, now consider it one of QTs best (if ResDogs/Pulp are the top tier, then THE belongs alongside IGB/Django..and maybe OUATIH). and feels something of a Tarantino 'greatest hits' regarding cast and connections in the QTCU (the usual Red Apple, Hicox etc)

"The Thing" connections are pretty strong (obviously intentional) - similar plot and setting, Kurt looking very MacReady with the hair/beard (as good as), kind of teaming up with a black guy, there's even a scene where Kurt is talking about the conspiracy shot almost exact the same, Ennio Morricone (heartbeat style score, and pretty sure even sampling some of The Thing score at one point near the end), and end scene of white and black dude slowly dying

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7699) a year ago

Frankly I can't stand watching the scene where Samuel Jackson forces a guy against his will into stripping naked and giving him a blow job. That's disgusting. That's the only scene I dislike in this movie.

[–] Alocirp (683) a year ago

I agree it's an unpleasant scene to watch, but I do wonder if those events actually happened (within the film's universe), or was just a story made up by Jackson to piss off the racist Southern general.

[–] bozo_500 (13105) a year ago

Its possible he was making that bit up (like the Lincoln letter). but its pretty clear it was he who killed his boy

[–] Alocirp (683) a year ago

Yeah, I figured as much about the actual killing. But he very likely could have added some sordid details to the story just to rub salt in the wound of the general.

[–] bozo_500 (13105) a year ago

I remember was disgusted by that scene when watched it back in 2015 and it kind of tainted the film for me, but now for whatever reasons I didn't have a problem with it lol (maybe bc i knew it was coming so wasn't so shocked, idk)

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7699) a year ago

I first watched this in 2018 when I was very sick and in the hospital. It almost made me throw up.

[–] pjl69 (2647) a year ago

Didn't bother me, I found the scene pretty funny.

[–] SamNoyoun (5828) a year ago

I agree, for me it knocked "Pulp Fiction" out of its long-held place as my favorite QT film...

[–] pjl69 (2647) a year ago

The Hateful Eight is Tarantino's best of the most recent films of his, but Jackie Brown and Kill Bills are still my number one favourites.

[–] Alocirp (683) a year ago

I agree this is an underrated film, and maybe one of QT's Top 5.

Not sure I'm with you on your "remake of The Thing" theory, however.

To address the examples you provided:

1.) "Similar plot and setting"

The characters in both movies are snowbound/isolated and there's a paranoia element, but beyond that, I'd say there's more differences than similarities.

2.) "Kurt looking very MacReady with the hair/beard"

Well, that's because both characters are played by the same actor. And does Kurt even have a beard in The Hateful Eight? I remember more of a big handlebar mustache.

3.) "Teaming up with a black guy"

This one is pretty trivial.

4.) "Ennio Morricone"

Yeah, same composer. That, combined with the fact the two films both had suspenseful tones, it seems logical the scores would be somewhat similar.

4.) "End scene of white and black dude slowly dying"

Again, this strikes me as trivial--particularly the distinction you make that one of the guys is white and one is black. Not to mention the ending of The Thing is much more ambiguous. It’s very possible one of two characters was actually the alien, so there was a whole different dynamic there, making it unclear which (if either) of them was actually in danger of being killed.

I’ll agree there's definitely some similarities between the two films, but then Tarantino is known for using other movies as inspiration for his own (even to the point of replicating certain scenes and shots). He certainly may have taken elements from The Thing and included them in The Hateful Eight, but imo it’s not close to a remake.

[–] Melton (4439) a year ago

Nitpicking. All those things rolled together, plus the fact Tarantino has acknowledged he was inspired by The Thing, make THE a clear ode to that film with deliberate references to it.

Also, the ending of The Thing is only unambiguous insofar as there is a possibility that a rescue helicopter will save them, but this is unlikely - they almost certainly froze to death. Neither of them is a Thing.

[–] Alocirp (683) a year ago

I don’t see how any of my comments are nitpicks.

For example, “teaming up with a black guy” IS a trivial similarity between the two films. That’s not nitpicking, just stating a fact.

Same goes for my other comments.

I acknowledged there are similarities between the films and that QT may very well have been inspired by The Thing. But that does not make The Hateful Eight a “near remake” of it.

Also disagree with your take on the ending of The Thing. It is definitely ambiguous. There’s no way to say for certain that one of them is not the alien.

[–] Melton (4439) a year ago

Your other comments are all nit-picks too. In isolation each point made by the OP might be worthless, but taken together they clearly point to a pattern, plus the fact Tarantino has acknowledged he was inspired by The Thing, make THE a clear ode to that film with deliberate references to it.

The Thing is dead, and if one of them was a Thing it would attack and assimilate the other.

[–] Alocirp (683) a year ago

Again, I’ve acknowledged some legitimate similarities exist between the films. However, examples like “black and white guy team up” or “characters who happen to be played by the same actor have similar appearances” are not among them. Those are trivial and do little to support the original argument that The Hateful Eight is a “near remake” of The Thing.

The OP presented a theory, and I respect that. In turn, I addressed his supporting points of evidence. By your definition, it seems that any point-by-point analysis of an argument constitutes “nitpicking”. To me, it’s simply discourse.

Agree to disagree.

[–] Melton (4439) a year ago

Your ‘point-by-point analysis’ pretends that all of these similarities to The Thing exist in isolation, not as a collective. Taken together, and backed up by Tarantino’s admission that he was heavily inspired by The Thing, it is unquestionable that THE is a clear ode to that film with deliberate references to it.

[–] Alocirp (683) a year ago

I AGREE there are similarities, and even inspiration taken from The Thing. I do NOT agree that The Hateful Eight is a near remake of it. If you think it is, that's cool, but I see no point in continuing to repeat the same thing over and over. Good day, sir.

[–] Melton (4439) a year ago

I don’t think THE is a near remake of The Thing, it’s an ode to that film though, full of deliberate refrences.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21454) a year ago

Another one referenced is Sergio Corbucci’s The Great Silence (1968). Check this out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tglFFU79-ko&pp=ygUbZ3JlYXQgc2lsZW5jZSBoYXRlZnVsIGVpZ2h0

[–] legnadibrom (6214) a year ago

the film is spoilt by the presence of the Magic Mike actor and that whole flashback scene to the happy owner/wait staff/jelly beans BS

[–] stickman38 (3346) a year ago

Can't say I agree with you. I caught this film a few months ago, it's just a gore fest, I suppose people that are into this sort of thing might like it but yeah, it's not that good.

It's a 5.5 out of 10 at best.

[–] Alocirp (683) a year ago

I don't recall this being particularly gory, especially for a Tarantino film. Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained, Kill Bill Vol 1, and arguably a few others are all gorier than The Hateful Eight.

Sure, there's some graphic violence here, but if anything, it's the slow burn nature that sticks with me more than the violence. That's actually one of the things I really appreciate about this one--it's quite unique as far as QT features go.

[–] stickman38 (3346) a year ago

There are a few scenes in H8 that are quite bloody. And IB, DU has some gory scenes too but I felt those scenes served a purpose, while in H8 is was gore just for the sake of having gore and seriously, the oral rape scene was a bit unnecessary.

That's why I do think this is just Tarantino's shock film with a western theme. I didn't care for it.

And I haven't seen the KB films yet, I'm sure I'll get around to it eventually.

[–] Alocirp (683) a year ago

Interesting. I'd actually argue the violence in both Django and Basterds is significantly more gratuitous and exploitative than that in The Hateful Eight.

I don't say this as a criticism of either movie; simply an observation. Basterds is a great film, and Django is good too (though slightly overrated imo and not one of QT's best).

I know quite a few Tarantino fans who were disappointed by The Hateful Eight, but you're the first I've heard to cite the violence as the reason for disliking it.

To each their own.

[–] stickman38 (3346) a year ago

>>>you're the first I've heard to cite the violence as the reason for disliking it<<<

I wouldn't exactly say that's why I dislike the film, it has just about everything you expect in order to be a good movie. Top notch cast, good cinematography, above average dialogue etc...

I just don't think the story was all that good, it just didn't really work. It kinda reminds of that movie 3:10 To Yuma but not quite as good. It wasn't original enough for me.

Oh well, at least Tarantino stepped out of his comfort zone and did a western. Which is not something I would expect from him.

[–] Alocirp (683) a year ago

That's fair. I saw 3:10 to Yuma once when it first came out but don't remember it too well, so can't really comment on the comparison. I did think that one was more an action movie, though, as opposed to the slow-burn mystery of Hateful Eight.

Also, QT did Django Unchained right before this one, which was also a Western, though admittedly with a much different feel to it.

[–] stickman38 (3346) a year ago

Ohh yeah, DU is a western too, I did like DU more than this. But I think Pulp Fiction is still my favorite Tarantino film, although, I really liked Once Upon A Time In Ho... and Inglorious Bastards.

So, it's close between these three. And H8 has that one scene towards the end when JJL's character is covered in blood, it's just gore for the sake of having gore. I thought it was a little over the top. But then again, this kind of thing is what Tarantino does but I just felt like the others movies were better at it than this one and they made more sense in relation to the plot and story. Ohh well...

At the end of the day, it's a 5.5 out of 10 from me. Which is not exactly a bad rating. Just middle of the road kinda thing...

[–] Alocirp (683) a year ago

My favorite QT film seems to alternate between Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. When I was a teen, it was RD, then in my 20s it was Pulp Fiction. Now I'm in my 30s, and after a recent rewatch of RD, I think I'd bump that back to the #1 spot. It's just such a perfectly crafted film.

I'm also a big fan of Jackie Brown, Inglourious Basterds, OUATIH, and Hateful Eight.

While I'd still argue that virtually all of Tarantino's films contain scenes of unnecessary violence and gore, what constitutes "over-the-top" is obviously subjective and varies from person to person. So I do appreciate you taking the time to explain your position.

[–] Melton (4439) a year ago

The Hateful Eight was always a masterpiece, I have no idea why some people were too slow to realise it at the time. It’s my favourite Tarantino.

[–] phifty2 (141) 6 months ago

Agreed. There was a lot of The Thing in this film. People holed up due to a blizzard trying to figure out who is who. No one trusts anyone else. Even the audience doesn't know who is who until near the end. I think the shots of and setting up the guidelines outside were a clear nod to the audience by the director in case anyone had any doubts. Those lines never come up again and have nothing to do with the plot nor is there any payoff to putting them up. There was no need at all for it as it does nothing to enrich or expand upon the story, character, tone, plot, etc.