Review of Hobo with a Shotgun (2011) by Danny R — 15 Jan 2012

A hyperviolent tale of bloodsoaked depravity that is a brilliant homage to the low-budget exploitation grindhouse films of the 70s. It concerns a never named hobo who arrives on a freight train to Hopetown, a hellhole of corruption and lawlessness, where innocent citizens are helpless and live in fear, the entire town is overrun by drug dealers, prostitutes and amoral thugs, it is all run by a megalomanical, sadistic freak named the Drake, well played by Brain Downey and his two murder-happy sons.

The hobo is played with a solid conviction by Rutger Hauer, who makes a sensational career comeback and delivers a powerhouse central performance in the juiciest role he has had in years; the hobo dreams of starting a lawn mowing business but soon becomes embroiled in chaos when he rescues a beautiful young prostitute named Abby, touchingly played by Molly Dunsworth who has a heart of gold from being rape and murdered, the hobo has decided to dedicate himself to rooting out the evil in the town with a shotgun he got during a robbery in a pawn shop, which he happened to be in when thieves burst in robbed the place and tried to kill a young girl hostage, at which time the hobo grab a shotgun off the gun rack and blasted the hell out of the low life thieves, then paying the owner of the pawnshop for shotgun, he walks out of the shop and begins his campaign of bloody retribution against all of the scum bags of the town especially the serpentine madman the Drake.

This is one of the most disturbing and brutally violent motion pictures I have ever seen, it is hardcore with no mercy for the viewer. Solid direction by Jason Elsener, this film was a surprise hit at 2011 Sundance Film Festival and took first prize.

Highly Recommended: if you can take the brutal violence, this film is not for all tastes!