Hobo with a Shotgun

I first saw this in 2011 on a dvd which I own. Revisited it recently. The film is about a freight-hopper (Rutger Hauer) who arrives in a town filled with criminals, corrupt policemen n hopeless fellas. After witnessing brutal crimes, ineffective police n undergoing torture, our hobo takes a shot gun n starts delivering justice one shell at a time.

This film has two similarities with Charles Bronson's character. In Hard Times, Charles Bronson's character as a hobo arrives in a new town. In Deathwish series, Bronson's character is a vigilante. The film is very violent, entertainingn hilarious. It gets a 7 instead of 8 for being a bit blasphemous.

He's a guardian angel walking the streets, a vicious protector of the weak and innocent. He is the hobo with a shotgun. He is Rutger Hauer. Hobo with a Shotgun is the story of... well, the title pretty much says it all. Bad guys led by a enjoyably psychotic gang lord named Drake dominate the unnamed city that is the setting of the movie. Drake and his two equally messed up offspring, Slick and Ivan, terrorize the people of this tortured city uncontested until the arrival of Hauer's Hobo, intent on using his saved nickels and dimes to buy a rusty old lawnmower that will surly start him on a honest, rewarding career. Sadly for Mr. Hobo, destiny has other plans, and our hero uses his mower money to purchase a old pump action shotgun with the intent of cleaning up the city. Along the way he is aided by a prostitute named Abby (a stunningly beautiful Molly Dunsworth) who has an affinity for destruction.

This films greatest strength is its oddball tone and freakishly beautiful bursts of violence that occur periodically through the movie. The chunks of the movie that involve crazy old Rutger Hauer blasting through waves of baddies in brutal fashion and the bizarre acts of violence perpetrated by the films antagonists are easily the highlights, and they never fail to delight with their brilliant, twisted gore effects. Director Jason Eisener is a master of cinematic displays of blood and guts, and god bless him for it because it takes the film to a whole other level. I would love to provide an example for your reading pleasure, but tragically spoiling any part of this movie is a crime to heinous to contemplate committing. Just know you will leave the theater feeling like a changed man after the brutal displays of carnage presented.

Unfortunately, the film is ultimately brought down by some poor scenes that stretched on for agonizing lengths. Many of these involve our homeless protagonist ranting senselessly to his lovely caretaker Abby, others involve the already hyperbolically inflated villains plotting the death of the Hobo. Perhaps what is most tragic is that Hauer, with the exception several brilliant lines in the films third act, never gets a chance to truly shine as the shotgun wielding hero, a huge disappointment considering the potential he possessed. Regardless of these flaws, the film is still an incredible experience based solely on the incredible displays of creative gore.

Rutger Hauer, a great actor known for the likes of Blade Runner, The Hitcher, Split Second, etc, sadly died yesterday so as a mark of respect I revisited Hobo. And I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Filmed in glorious Technicolor this is a tremendous homage to violent movies of the late 1970's/80's. At just over 80 minutes the action never lets up, it may well prove too much for viewers who cannot stomach much violence, and it is very graphic too. Gore lovers will not be disappointed. Rutger is great but Molly Dunsworth delivers a good performance as a hooker that you don't want to mess with. Fantastic movie that deserves a higher average score than its current 6/10

Call it grindhouse, exploitation, revenge, garbage or whatever movie - Hobo with a Shotgun is one of those movies you just can like/love to watch if you have a very BIG notion towards bad taste. Hobo with a Shotgun: no p.c.-blabla at all and a guilt pleasure for sure spiced up with a good sweep of good ol' bloody gore - and you get Rutger Hauer too! Yummy.

This is freaking art. Seriously, this movie is what the Machete movies should have been. And make sure to watch the alternative ending or extra scene, it is a little bonus gem. Whatever, this movie is more of a grindhouse movie than most of the original grindhouse movies from back in the ways. The film is about a drifter who grabs a shotgun and starts dispensing justice. The main thing I trip off of is how the film progressively gets better. Frankly it starts off a little too low budget for its own good but after, it becomes cinematic art.