Woodsman Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), leads a group of trappers through treacherous terrain. After being injured from a bear attack, his comrades leave him for dead and he must survive the journey back to find the man who betrayed and abandoned him, John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy).
By PHINEAS ALEXANDER – Staff Writer
“The Revenant”, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy and Domhnall Gleeson, incorporates stunning visuals and powerfully acting performances from the cast.
Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “The Revenant”, which is based off of a true story, takes place in the South Dakota wilderness, in which Woodsman Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) leads a group of trappers through treacherous terrain. After being injured from a bear attack, his comrades leave him for dead and he must survive the journey back to find the man who betrayed and abandoned him, John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy).
Throughout the film, The “Revenant” uses stunning visuals and immersive cinematography to keep the audience engaged and on the edge of the their seats as an epic fight between man and nature unfolds in front of them. The “Revenant” contains just the right balance of action, suspense, and tragedy, which is fueled by DiCaprio’s drive and commitment.
As Glass makes his grueling trek back to civilization, he is seemingly driven by the pure force of revenge, as he finds himself facing grisly obstacles at every turn ranging anywhere from stealing bison meat from a pack of hungry wolves, to taking shelter inside of a horse carcass to protect himself from the harsh elements.
The only thing one could complain about is the lack of backstory and explanation behind Glass’s family, as the viewer is plunged into his tragic struggle to stay alive. Throughout the film, Glass experiences flashbacks which allude to a tragedy rich backstory, including his Native American wife and his son, who is present for a portion of the main storyline. These characters are never really explained, as the film focuses on Glass and his target Fitzgerald.
The “Revenant” is a solid film in the fields of both cinematography, and unrelenting action that keeps the audience glued to their seat as they are carried along on an epic journey that defies logic and makes one doubt that this could possibly be based on true events.
“The Revenant”, which is rated R, has some moments that may be too grisly for some, so this film may not be suited for certain audiences, but overall, it is a strong film that will almost surely dazzle all who follow along Glass is his struggle for revenge.
