Walton Goggins’ Stellar Performance Still Manages to Deliver in Quentin Tarantino’s Worst Film
A return to familiar territory
Set shortly after the Civil War, The Hateful Eight brings eight or so characters together at a stop during a snowstorm. Tarantino revisits the confined-room setup of Reservoir Dogs, while weaving in themes of racial prejudice, revenge, redemption and deception.
The film followed the box-office success of Django Unchained, but its bleak tone sets it apart from that earlier western. It runs nearly three hours and spends much of its time with characters who are waiting for violence to erupt.
A cast trapped in conflict
The story follows bounty hunter John Ruth, played by Kurt Russell, and his prisoner Daisy Domergue, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh. Their stagecoach is headed for Red Rock before the storm redirects them to Minnie’s Haberdashery, where they encounter the other characters.
The film also features Samuel L. Jackson as Marquis Warren, a Black Union major turned bounty hunter. The gradual introductions and extended exposition can feel clunky, but the performances of Jackson and Goggins give the dialogue energy.
Goggins makes Mannix vivid
Goggins plays Chris Mannix, a cruel, racist white man who claims to be a sheriff. His performance draws on his physicality and musical way of speaking, presenting Mannix’s racial insecurity as pathetic rather than merely cartoonish.
Goggins told the Nashville Scene that he read the script “250, 300 times” to understand the character. Mannix comes across as vulnerable and open, in contrast with other characters who appear to be hiding something.
Jackson and Goggins spark
Jackson gives Warren a sense of mystery, while Goggins keeps Mannix unpredictable. Their contrasting performances help the film’s elaborate dialogue land and provide a lively center to an otherwise grim story.
The Hateful Eight may lack the romance of Django Unchained or the suspense of Inglourious Basterds, but Goggins’ work remains a standout. It is strong enough to make the film feel worthwhile despite its flaws.
Key points
- The Hateful Eight reunites Quentin Tarantino with a confined, talk-heavy story setup.
- Walton Goggins plays Chris Mannix, a racist sheriff whose claim to the title may be false.
- Goggins said he read the script “250, 300 times,” according to the Nashville Scene.
- Samuel L. Jackson’s enigmatic Marquis Warren and Goggins’ vulnerable Mannix energize the film.