Review #163: 'Hobo with a Shotgun' (2011)

Hobo with a Shotgun began its life, like that of Robert Rodriguez' Machete (2010), as a faux trailer in amongst Don't (Edgar Wright), Thanksgiving (Eli Roth) and Werewolf Women of the SS (Rob Zombie). This trailer, however was only shown in Canada, and some US territories. With a very simple idea, Jason Eisner's film expands the trailer much more fluidly and with a more focused narrative than Machete. But where as the latter dealt mainly with 1970's exploitation tropes, this film does the same for the 80's of films such as James Glickenhaus's The Exterminator (1980 - a film I will be reviewing later as part of the childhood memories project).

Rutger Hauer's Hobo walks into Hope Town (the sign at it's border has graffiti sprayed over the first word, replacing it with "SCUM"), to find that the criminals run the place, death is a daily spectacle, and law enforcement is as corrupt as the criminals. All the hobo wants to do is collect enough money so he can buy a lawnmower and start a business. After reaching his monetary target, and after witnessing some horrific crime, he goes to the pawn shop "Pawn at Dawn", only to be disturbed by some armed robbers. Hauer picks up a shotgun (which is priced the same as the lawnmower, $49.99), and begins his crusade to clean the streets of criminals: "Delivering justice one shell at a time".

The film has stylistic elements from a number of '80's titles; whilst there are some visually stunning, colourfully lit, sequences, there is a cinematic juvenilism which is injected in some Troma-like scenes of garish, almost-funny gore. The synth score echoes John Carpenter's arrangements for his early films. The criminals also have an almost comic-book villainy to them: Their demands are frantically broadcast to the entire city, as they hijack a television station; the performances are exaggerated, and drenched in the 80's need for bright, neon-like colour. The criminal boss, Drake (Brian Downey), presents murders on the streets like he is hosting a game show; a ringmaster to a pugilistic, public spectacle.

This is an over the top film that enjoys its exploits into violence and excessive gore-splattering. Adolescent, Reagan-era morals (he is all of those 80's "tough guys"), and a whole lot of fun to watch. Hauer clearly enjoys playing this character. He revels in the comic, bloody excesses. As a bizarre note: The song in the closing credits is "Run With Us" by Lisa Lougheed, which was also the theme tune to 1980's Saturday morning cartoon 'The Raccoons'.


Directed by: Jason Eisener
Starring: Rutger Hauer, Brian Downey, Gregory Smith
Country: Canada/USA

Rating: ****

Marc Ivamy