THE HATEFUL EIGHT: Tarantino’s 8th Masterpiece in the Making?

As 2015 comes to a close, the promises of 2016 in film leave excitement fizzling like the fireworks of New Year amongst Quentin Tarantino fans. We have been treated to an influx of releases ripe from the mind of the divisive director over the past few years, with Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained providing much controversy and dividing many opinions, but it is The Hateful Eight that is now beginning to incite anticipation about its January release.

But, as this excitement grows towards the end of Tarantino’s twenty-fourth year in the filmmaking business, the success he enjoys now has progressed in an initially unexpected way. From a stunning festival success with Reservoir Dogs at the beginning of the 90s to a box office total of nearly $600 million under his belt today, the mysterious, enigmatic and controversial director developed this persona in the eyes of a mainstream audience.

One could argue that this is possibly a unique occurrence for a director, a man who has thrived on media pressure and angry debate surrounding every script, film or character he produces. With such a widely recognisable ‘character’ associated with the name Quentin Tarantino, what have we come to expect from his latest releases?

New Year – Same Old Movies?

The usual and intense scrutiny Tarantino’s films fall under is another cert for the release of The Hateful Eight. He has himself described violence as ‘one of the most fun things to watch‘ and this has become more than just a part of his persona, it is something expected of him at this point in his career. Whether or not this was an intentional progression on Tarantino’s part is for another debate. But, as his eighth feature approaches its date of release, the selection of recurring themes throughout the previous seven films allows us to somewhat predict the reception The Hateful Eight will soon receive.

With a release date of January 8th 2016 in the UK and the USA (extended release), The Hateful Eight will most likely become Tarantino’s biggest box office success. As well as possessing a growing and passionate fanbase, the matured director now commands a certain amount of press publication. Tarantino’s persona is more sought-after than those of the stars themselves. He has become one of them, in some ways more than them, and he provides an equal amount of directorial insight, entertainment and unpredictability that draws in viewers rather than the usual fare.

This new release provides a welcome return to the spotlight for a director who, other than partaking in a number of anti-police brutality rallies in New York, seems to prefer the anonymous lifestyle outside of his own filmmaking. It is in his films that his star persona really comes to life, except for the occasional blow-out interview on British television, and hopefully this next release packs the same punch.

Directors or Stars – Who Really Rules the Roost?

The director as a star, a topic that I am particularly interested in and hope to explore further in future articles, is a fashionable and current period in which the typical actor adorning every piece of merchandise or marketing poster is overshadowed by the ‘directed by’ title across his or her head. Tarantino is a prime example of such a powerful figure, providing The Hateful Eight with a significant boost before its January release.

The film itself can only be a success. Publicity alone can provide a film with all of the momentum it needs, an example of which being the viral campaign for The Blair Witch Project set up entirely online with a limited budget, and so one can expect Tarantino’s latest fare to dominate the January box office.

Aside from plot details, very little has been revealed about the film itself. As discussed by John Kerber in an article published for Film Inquiry late last year, it is the perfect recipe for a Tarantino movie. From 1992 through to 2012, the seven movies produced by this star director gave us enough material to perfectly craft a map of expectation for his eighth.

I believe that the racial war being fought by Tarantino and the issues he attempts to raise will appear for certain in The Hateful Eight, with Bruce Dern’s character at the centre of what is sure to be a wealth of controversy. Taking the stage at what appears to be the perfect moment, The Hateful Eight is expected to give audiences what they crave and, more importantly, what they need.

Tarantino as the Voice of Reason

Controversy is what Tarantino does best. Perhaps Django Unchained wasn’t the conversation starter Tarantino declared it was around the time of release but maybe, just maybe, The Hateful Eight can highlight the American south in a way that has not previously been explored. Especially for a film under such public scrutiny, this would be a well placed criticism of American society and a concentrated piece surrounding the racial tension permeating the deep south.

It is not just well timed but necessary in bringing such a topic into the forefront of minds. As well as being a director famed for memorable scenes of violence, this talent for lacing important issues throughout entertaining and unmissable action. With the impending release, Quentin Tarantino remains the director of the moment in this current streak of incredible filmmaking.

If the director truly does call it a day in the future with ten feature films under his belt, we can well and truly be proud to have been witness to one of the most exceptional talents of a generation. Tarantino himself has called The Hateful Eight one of his final projects and so it is possible that we will only be treated to two more of his movies. As he himself believes, it can be best for a director or star to bow out before his time is up, therefore leaving behind an almost spotless record as opposed to a dying career.

If The Hateful Eight lives up to the expectation and becomes another one of Tarantino’s great masterpieces, we can welcome plenty of quick dialogue, smart exchanges, memorable characters and plenty of gratuitous violence at the very least.

I expect the film to more than deliver on every single one of those categories and more. This great director can and will be held in the highest regard for years to come. But what do you think? Do you agree that The Hateful Eight could become Tarantino’s next masterpiece? Or are you uncertain that any of his previous works can even be considered as exceptional in comparison to other directors?

Let me know in the comments!