The Thicket review – Peter Dinklage is a bounty hunter in harsh western with unusual chill
Here is a western starring Peter Dinklage, but forget hot sun-baked gullies and leather-skinned cowboys riding sweatily through rattlesnake country. The Thicket takes place in a hard, snowbound wilderness interspersed with equally hard, snowbound little townships consisting mainly of bars and brothels. You can see the breath in the air and the blood on the snow. The plot is staple horse opera: a kidnapped maiden must be rescued by a motley group of good-ish guys with mixed motives, headed up by Dinklage playing a bounty hunter character offering a similar vein of dry, world-weary cynicism as his breakthrough role as Tyrion in Game of Thrones, only much less aristocratic. He is joined by Gbenga Akinnagbe as his right hand man, with whom Dinklage has nice chemistry, and Levon Hawke, as a naive young Christian whose sister has been kidnapped by ruffians.
The ruffians are where the film really does something unusual, via a simple but intriguing gambit. In the book on which The Thicket is based, the main villain, a man, is called Cut Throat Bill. Here, Cut Throat Bill is played by Juliette Lewis. It isn't exactly a case of trendy, gender-blind casting; while the character is still called Cut Throat Bill, and assumed by those who haven't met him to be a man, as soon as Lewis encounters anyone, it is very clear that the character is perceived as female. 'He's a she,' and so on. Cut Throat Bill doesn't correct them, but continues to go by that name. You might read the character as genderfluid or trans, but existing in a world that didn't have any vocabulary for this, and the film makes no attempt to retrofit modern ideas on to a historical setting. Cut Throat Bill is Cut Throat Bill.
Be warned though, if you're looking for a joy-filled queer-friendly narrative, this isn't it. This is a western in the mode of The Proposition: grim characters dying grim deaths with a reasonable amount of downtime between kills. Indeed, for those seeking the thrills and spills of an action-packed shoot 'em up, it's probably somewhat too stately. But it is an odd, mostly compelling yarn, and acted with gusto and shot with real physical commitment to the wide open spaces and raw chill of the elements.
The Thicket is on digital platforms in the UK from 21 April, and on DVD from 28 April. It is streaming on Prime in Australia.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
36 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
All Amazon Prime members can claim 9 new gifts worth more than £120 for FREE – plus there's an extra £5 perk
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue. We've got the full list of freebies and exactly when you can scoop up each one AMAZ-ING! All Amazon Prime members can claim 9 new gifts worth more than £120 for FREE – plus there's an extra £5 perk Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ANYONE with Amazon Prime membership is eligible to claim a long list of freebies worth more than £120 this month. If you're already forking out the monthly fee for your Prime, then you might as well get your money's worth. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Amazon Prime can get you speedy deliveries but it's not the only benefit on offer Credit: Getty 5 Amazon Prime Gaming is sharing a selection of free games this June Credit: Amazon Some Amazon customers may be unaware that their membership also includes access to Prime Gaming. With Prime Gaming, you can enjoy a lengthy list of free downloadable video games each month to keep forever. You'll want to snap up this month's selection though as titles are swapped out for new ones each month. This June, Prime members can claim a fresh lineup of games with new entries released every Thursday. "Prime Gaming is offering several free titles throughout June, with the first game available to claim starting now," said Amazon's Chris Leggett. "This month's lineup allows players to lead warbands into bloody and lethal skirmishes in Mordheim: City of the Damned. "And control a party of relic hunters in a tale of destiny set in a conflict-torn world in Dark Envoy." 5 Dark Envoy is one of many games members can get for free Credit: Amazon 5 Have you played Mordheim: City of the Damned yet? Credit: Amazon LIST OF FREEBIES REVEALED Here's the list of free games that you can claim this month, along with their prices on online store Steam. Now available: Mordheim: City of the Damned - £17.99 The Abandoned Planet - £12.79 June 12: Station to Station - £14.99 Death Squared - £12.79 June 19: Dark Envoy - £24.99 Fate: Undiscovered Realms - £5.79 June 26: Thief: Deadly Shadows - £7.49 Jupiter Hell - £19.49 Gallery of Things: Reveries - £9.99 To bag them, all you need to do is head over to the Amazon Prime Gaming website. At a collective value of £126, it's a deal you can't ignore. Amazon issues update on major Alexa changes coming to millions of speakers and warns several key features are missing Prime subscribers can also play the below games via the Prime Gaming Luna channel this month. Luna is Amazon's cloud gaming service that works on the devices you already own, including Fire TV. You can play your favourite games instantly with no PC or gaming console required. As a Prime Gaming member, you get unlimited access to a rotating selection of popular games. June (Prime Luna): Batman: Arkham Knight Lego DC Super-Villains House of Golf 2 RiMS Racing Mail Mole Garfield Kart: Furious Racing The Jackbox Survey Scramble Ultrakill Spells & Secrets Fortnite OG Fortnite Ballistic Lego Fortnite Brick Life Fortnite Battle Royale Fortnite Festival Lego Fortnite Odyssey Rocket Racing Fortnite Trackmania Starter Access Fallout New Vegas: Ultimate Edition Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition HOW MUCH DOES AMAZON PRIME COST? Here's what you need to know about Amazon Prime pricing in the UK. A standard Amazon Prime membership costs £8.99 a month – that's £107.88 over the course of a year. If you pay annually, you'll be billed £95 instead. For TV fans who just want Amazon Prime Video without a full Prime membership, it'll cost you £5.99 a month, working out at £71.88 for the year. Students can get discounted Amazon Prime, with the monthly cost reduced to £4.49 (or £53.88 over the course of a year). And for students who pay annually, the one-off yearly fee is £47.49. BONUS PRIME PERK That's not the only gaming perks include with Prime Gaming either. Prime members are able to connect their account to Twitch app which Amazon owns. You'll be able to claim a free monthly Twitch channel subscription once your accounts have linked. The subscription would usually cost £4.99 so it's another decent freebie, especially as you get a new one every month. 5 Gamers can get free games from Amazon Credit: AFP
Scottish Sun
19 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Future of Molly-Mae Hague's Prime Video documentary series revealed after she reunites with Tommy Fury on show
BOXER TOMMY Fury's rollercoaster relationship with Molly-Mae Hague has helped the former Love islander bag a second series of her Prime Video show, Behind it All. The couple, who got together on the ITV dating show six years ago, sensationally split up in 2024. 4 The fate of Molly-Mae Hague's documentary series has been revealed Credit: Getty 4 The pair's rollercoaster relationship spans six years since their time on Love Island Credit: Getty 4 The documentary's first episodes dropped in January Credit: Prime Video However, they were reunited with a New Year's Eve clinch, all of which was captured in the documentary. Prime were blown away by the ratings and were particularly thrilled by the huge numbers of young female viewers which Mollie, 26, brought to the streaming service. A TV insider said: 'Molly-Mae: Behind it All was the most watched show by females in the UK in the hugely valuable 18 to 35 age group. "That's a crucial market for the streamer to tap into. 'Viewers were obviously hooked by the ups and downs of her relationship with Tommy, but also inspired by her juggling her love life with being a mother to their young daughter as well as running a business. 'Prime is so keen to get it back on screen that production has already kicked off on the second season which will either drop later this year or early next year.' Tommy, 26, who is the half brother of boxer champion Tyson Fury, was accused of cheating on Molly-Mae when they split up last August. They seemed to be reunited after their passionate clinch in January, and have been pictured together on numerous occasions since. But she only confirmed they were back together last month. Prime has teased that the second series: 'is set to be more personal than ever, as we see Molly at a crossroads in her life... Watch the moment Molly-Mae Hague is confronted by sister Zoe after revealing she's back with Tommy Fury "With more on her plate than ever before, Molly-Mae is testing living arrangements, taking on personal challenges and making some life altering decisions.' Molly-Mae: Behind It All dropped its first three episodes in January. This was followed by a second batch of three episodes four months later.
Edinburgh Live
a day ago
- Edinburgh Live
Shetland fans must watch jaw-dropping series about real life Scottish island murder
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Fans of the BBC's crime drama Shetland are being encouraged to tune into a forthcoming Amazon Prime Video drama that delves into the true story of a murder in the Scottish isles. The Orkney Assassin: Murder in the Isles, a fresh feature documentary, will be available on the streaming service later this week. The film unravels the chilling tale of a ruthless murder in Scotland and shadows a family determined to free their son, Michael Ross, from prison. Amazon Prime Video's synopsis reveals: "One summer evening in 1994, a masked man walked calmly into the only Indian restaurant in the remote Orkney Islands and shot a waiter dead before disappearing into the night. "The murder remained unsolved for years, until new evidence emerged, resulting in an unexpected arrest that stunned the local community. "Featuring powerful new testimony, this twist-filled true crime documentary explores one of Scotland's most controversial cases." (Image: AMAZON PRIME) This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Prime Video free trial Get Prime Video free for 30 days TV lovers can get 30 days' free access to tantalising TV like The Boys, Reacher and Clarkson's Farm by signing up to Amazon Prime. Just remember to cancel at the end and you won't be charged. £0 Amazon Get Prime Video here An exclusive snippet shared with Reach also offers a sneak peek of what's in store, hinting at a "twist in the tale that nobody saw coming". In the clip, we learn that Michael Ross made a bold bid to flee the court in dramatic scenes, reports the Express. KC Brian McConnachie remarks: "I've been doing this for 40 years and I have never seen such a dramatic end to a trial." Former journalist Bob Dow also shares: "It was so bizarre, it was so surreal, you couldn't make this up. (Image: BBC) "If you wrote this as a Hollywood movie script, no one would believe you. They would say it was unimaginable." While The Orkney Assassin is rooted in a real-life case and Shetland is purely fictional, BBC enthusiasts might find this series appealing due to its shared themes and Scottish island backdrop. BBC's Shetland, a crime drama set predominantly on the titular archipelago, first graced our screens back in March 2013. The series, an adaptation of Ann Cleeves' novels by David Kane, has previously bagged the Best TV Drama award from BAFTA Scotland. (Image: AMAZON PRIME) Douglas Henshall led the first seven seasons as DI Jimmy Pérez, with Ashley Jensen stepping into the role of DI Ruth Calder from season 8. While we're still awaiting confirmation of a release date for season 10, Shetland is anticipated to make a comeback on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year. The Orkney Assassin: Murder in the Isles will be available on Prime Video in the UK & Ireland on June 8.
