The Hateful Eight

Right now you can watch The Hateful Eight in Australia on Stan and Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels, and in the US on Peacock Premium and Philo — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Samuel L. Jackson sets the tone, and the ensemble matches it scene for scene. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Stan.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Hateful Eight is worth clearing space for. At its heart, The Hateful Eight understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. Bounty hunters seek shelter from a raging blizzard and get caught up in a plot of betrayal and deception. The writing gets a boost from Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell, who sell every scene they're in. It hit screens in 2015. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — The Hateful Eight passes that test consistently. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in The Hateful Eight. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Samuel L. Jackson carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.