Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Action Comedy Drama Horror Thriller Sci-Fi Romance Mystery Animation Crime
Bone Tomahawk (2015) movie poster

Timeline

Bone Tomahawk (2015) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2015 · 132 min · English
JustWatch #2,270 26
Directed by
S. Craig Zahler

In the harsh American frontier, Sheriff Franklin, his deputy, a skilled gunslinger, and a brave cowboy embark on a perilous journey. Their mission is to rescue three women taken by a savage, cannibalistic tribe living in the mountains. Facing brutal landscapes and unimaginable horrors, the group must confront a terrifying enemy and fight for survival in a desperate fight to bring the captives home.

Adventure Drama Thriller Horror Western Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Bone Tomahawk
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Bone Tomahawk (2015)

Where can you watch Bone Tomahawk? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on AMC+, Philo and Shudder: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

15 events in order · contains spoilers

Bone Tomahawk Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Bone Tomahawk (2015) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Desperate Drifters

    In the 1890s, two drifters named Purvis and Buddy resort to a life of crime, engaging in killing and robbing travelers to make ends meet. Their actions reflect the desperation and lawlessness of the era.

    When
    1890s

  2. The Burial Site

    While fleeing the sounds of approaching horses, Purvis and Buddy stumble upon a Native American burial site hidden in the hills. This discovery sets off a tragic chain of events when Buddy is suddenly attacked and killed by unseen assailants.

    Where
    Hills

  3. Arrival in Bright Hope

    Eleven days later, Purvis arrives in the unsuspecting town of Bright Hope. He quickly buries his stolen goods, attempting to blend in and avoid drawing attention to himself.

    When
    Eleven days later
    Where
    Bright Hope

  4. Confrontation with Sheriff

    Sheriff Franklin Hunt confronts Purvis at the local saloon after being alerted by Chicory, who notices Purvis's suspicious behavior. Purvis hesitates under questioning, falsely claiming to be 'Buddy' as a means to escape the law.

    Where
    Saloon, Bright Hope

  5. Injured Escape

    In his attempt to flee, Purvis is shot in the leg by Sheriff Hunt. Hunt sends local educated man John Brooder to fetch the town's doctor to assist Purvis, further complicating Purvis's desperate situation.

    Where
    Bright Hope

  6. Samantha's Assistance

    With Arthur O'Dwyer, the incapacitated foreman, being looked after by his wife Samantha, Brooder seeks her help to tend to Purvis's gunshot wound. Their departure from home leaves Arthur vulnerable and isolated.

    Where
    O'Dwyer's Home

  7. Brutal Murder

    That night brings more horror to Bright Hope as a stable boy is brutally murdered by yet another group of unseen attackers. This crime escalates the already tense atmosphere in the town.

    When
    That night
    Where
    Bright Hope

  8. Clue from the Arrow

    Sheriff Hunt investigates the murder scene and discovers missing horses along with a single arrow left behind. He consults a local Native American man who connects the arrow to a feared cannibalistic clan in the ominous Valley of the Starving Men.

    Where
    Murder Scene

  9. Journey to the Valley

    Determined to rescue the captured townspeople, Sheriff Hunt, along with Arthur, Chicory, and Brooder embark on a treacherous journey to the valley. The group braves countless dangers and tests of survival.

    Where
    Journey

  10. Encounter with Mexican Strangers

    Days into their journey, the group encounters two Mexican strangers at their camp, leading to Brooder's troubling decision to kill them. This moral degeneration heightens the group's internal conflict and anxiety.

    Where
    Camp

  11. Ambush from Raiders

    The group faces a grim ambush during the night, which injures Brooder and forces him to make the grim decision to put down his own horse. Such events increase tensions and exacerbate fractures among the men.

    When
    That night
    Where
    Campsite

  12. Entering the Valley

    Upon reaching the Valley of the Starving Men, the remaining trio finds themselves under attack from arrows. Although they manage to fend off two attackers, they are forced to retreat, suffering injuries in the process.

    Where
    Valley of the Starving Men

  13. Hunt's Desperate Plan

    Sheriff Hunt, realizing they must act swiftly, devises a plan to poison the cannibal tribesmen using opium tincture. However, their attempt fails when only one tribesman consumes the toxic dose.

    Where
    Cave

  14. A Battle for Survival

    In a climactic battle, Arthur uses ingenuity to eliminate more foes, while Hunt's desperate heroism shines through as he confronts the cannibal leader. Arthur heroically rescues Samantha and Chicory, while Hunt prepares for the ultimate sacrifice.

    Where
    Cave

  15. Long Journey Home

    After their harrowing escape, the exhausted survivors set off on the long journey back home. The echoes of Hunt's sacrifice linger in their minds, as they muster their strength, aware of the trials that have forged their resilience.

Last updated: October 25, 2024 at 12:20

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

Bone Tomahawk Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Bone Tomahawk (2015): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did the cannibals take the townspeople from Bright Hope?

The cannibalistic tribe raid Bright Hope and capture several townspeople, including Samantha O'Dwyer. They take captives to use as food storage - this is established when Nick is dragged from his cell, killed, scaled, and consumed. The tribe has been living in the Valley of the Starving Men and practices human cannibalism as part of their culture.

  • cannibals
  • captives
  • bright hope
  • valley of the starving men
  • tribe raid
Q2

Why did Purvis claim to be Buddy after arriving in Bright Hope?

Purvis uses the name Buddy because Buddy was killed at the Native American burial site earlier. By claiming to be Buddy, Purvis hopes to conceal his true identity and avoid suspicion. He is a wanted drifter wanted for killing and robbing travelers, and using his dead companion's name seems like a way to escape the law's attention.

  • purvis
  • buddy
  • false identity
  • drifter
  • bright hope
Q3

What is the Valley of the Starving Men?

The Valley of the Starving Men is the remote mountain territory where a feared cannibalistic clan resides. A local Native American man identifies the arrow left at the murder scene as belonging to this tribe. The name itself reflects the desperate, starvation-driven nature of the cannibals who inhabit it.

  • valley of the starving men
  • cannibals
  • native american
  • arrow
  • tribe
Q4

Why did Brooder kill the two Mexican strangers at the camp?

Brooder kills the two Mexican strangers because he suspects they could be scouts for a raiding party. Fear and paranoia drive his decision - the group is already deep in hostile territory and Brooder acts preemptively, viewing them as a potential threat. This decision creates moral tension within the group.

  • brooder
  • mexican strangers
  • camp
  • killing
  • scouts
Q5

Why did the opium poisoning plan fail to kill all the cannibals?

Sheriff Hunt devises a plan to poison the cannibals using opium tincture he confiscated from Arthur. However, the plan fails because only one tribesman consumes the tainted food. The others either refuse or don't eat enough of it, allowing most of the cannibal clan to survive the poisoning attempt.

  • opium
  • poison
  • hunt
  • arthur
  • cannibals
  • cave
Q6

What was the whistle-like object found in the tribesmen?

Arthur discovers a whistle-like object embedded in the windpipes of the dead cannibals. This appears to be a tribal artifact or weapon. Arthur cleverly uses one of these objects to lure and eliminate more foes by imitating the tribesmen's communication signals.

  • whistle
  • windpipe
  • tribesmen
  • artifact
  • arthur
  • lure
Q7

Why did Sheriff Hunt sacrifice himself at the end?

Sheriff Hunt prepares to sacrifice himself to ensure the remaining women can escape from the cave. With the cannibals pursuing and the group weakened, Hunt makes a desperate final stand, firing three gunshots to draw the cannibals' attention away from the escaping survivors. His sacrifice is a heroic act that allows Arthur, Samantha, and Chicory to flee.

  • hunt
  • sacrifice
  • final stand
  • gunshots
  • escape
  • heroic death
Q8

Why were the pregnant women being held by the cannibals?

Arthur, Samantha, and Chicory discover two pregnant women imprisoned in the cave. The cannibals keep pregnant women as a renewable food source - the unborn children provide a continuous supply of fresh meat. This horrific discovery underscores the extreme depravity of the tribe and serves as a key motivation for the survivors to escape.

  • pregnant women
  • cannibals
  • cave
  • captives
  • food source
Q9

Why did Arthur join the rescue mission despite his broken leg?

Arthur O'Dwyer joins the rescue party despite having a broken leg because his wife Samantha was taken by the cannibals. His love for Samantha drives him to overcome his injury and accompany the posse. Chicory eventually leaves Arthur behind to recuperate when his condition worsens, but Arthur later tracks down the men and arrives just in time to save them.

  • arthur
  • samantha
  • broken leg
  • rescue
  • love
  • motivation
Q10

What happened to Purvis after being shot in the leg?

After Purvis is shot in the leg by Sheriff Hunt, he is left in the town jail. Brooder had called on Samantha to help tend his wound, and she assists at the jail. However, Purvis is still there when the cannibals raid Bright Hope and take captives. His ultimate fate is unclear from the summary - he is not mentioned among the rescue party or survivors.

  • purvis
  • shot leg
  • jail
  • cannibals
  • bright hope

Movie threads

More Movies Like Bone Tomahawk, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Bone Tomahawk tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Frontier horror survival movies like Bone Tomahawk

Descent into savagery where the wilderness harbors unimaginable terrors. If you liked the blend of Western setting and brutal horror in Bone Tomahawk, these movies feature similar desperate survival journeys against savage threats in unforgiving landscapes. Discover more tense, grim stories where civilization's edge is tested by primal terror.

  • savage
  • grueling
  • desperate
  • harsh
  • primal horror
  • tense
  • Tone: dark, brutal, horrifying
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories typically follow a group on a linear mission into hostile territory, where their goal shifts from proactive pursuit to sheer survival against a monstrous, often cannibalistic, foe. The narrative is a grueling descent into brutality, testing the limits of human endurance.

Why they belong together: These films share a core experience of unrelenting dread, born from the combination of a harsh setting and a terrifying, inhuman antagonist. They are united by a dark tone, high-intensity violence, and a focus on the psychological and physical toll of survival.

Wilderness movie poster

Wilderness

2006
Ravenous movie poster

Ravenous

1999
Frontier(s) movie poster

Frontier(s)

2008
The Burrowers movie poster

The Burrowers

2008
Bone Tomahawk movie poster

Bone Tomahawk

2015
Cannibal Terror movie poster

Cannibal Terror

1980
Wrong Turn movie poster

Wrong Turn

2003
The Hills Have Eyes movie poster

The Hills Have Eyes

1977

Bleak rescue mission movies like Bone Tomahawk

A perilous quest where success comes at a devastating personal cost. For viewers who appreciated the grim determination and heavy sacrifice in Bone Tomahawk's rescue plot. These films feature similar perilous journeys where the mission's cost outweighs the victory, resulting in a bittersweet or bleak ending for the survivors.

  • desperate
  • tense
  • grim
  • harsh
  • sacrifice
  • loss
  • Tone: dark, desperate, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, dread-filled
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a clear, straightforward objective—a rescue—that drives the plot. However, the journey is punctuated by escalating horrors and casualties. The climax often involves a pyrrhic victory, where the goal is technically achieved but the survivors are left permanently scarred.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared focus on the heavy emotional and physical toll of a noble quest. The experience is defined by a steady pacing that builds dread, a dark tone, and a bittersweet ending feel that emphasizes sacrifice over triumph.

The Guardian movie poster

The Guardian

2006
Rescue Dawn movie poster

Rescue Dawn

2007
The Missing movie poster

The Missing

2003
Marooned movie poster

Marooned

1969
Men of the Blue Cross movie poster

Men of the Blue Cross

1955
Black Sea movie poster

Black Sea

2015
The Lost Squadron movie poster

The Lost Squadron

1932
The Red Tent movie poster

The Red Tent

1969

If you liked this

Movies Like Bone Tomahawk

Similar movies to Bone Tomahawk: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries
Slow West movie poster

Slow West

2015
Ravenous movie poster

Ravenous

1999
The Revenant movie poster

The Revenant

2015
Wolves movie poster

Wolves

2014
Bones movie poster

Bones

2001
Place of Bones movie poster

Place of Bones

2024
Bone Dry movie poster

Bone Dry

2007
The Bone Eater movie poster

The Bone Eater

2007
Tom Horn movie poster

Tom Horn

1980
Thunder movie poster

Thunder

1983
Bone Cold movie poster

Bone Cold

2023
Tomahawk movie poster

Tomahawk

1951

Every angle

Bone Tomahawk (2015) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Bone Tomahawk in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app