Sheriff

Lore & Background

Sheriff Franklin Hunt is the primary law enforcement officer in the town of Bright Hope. When backup Deputy Chicory reports that brigand Purvis has buried loot, Hunt interrogates Purvis and shoots him in the leg when he attempts to flee. After a stable boy is killed and Hunt finds his office empty with an arrow left behind, he learns from the Professor that the arrow belongs to a tribe of troglodytes—inbred cannibals shunned by other native tribes. Certain that his deputy Nick, assistant Samantha O'Dwyer, and prisoner Purvis have been captured, Hunt forms a rescue party with Chicory and gunslinger John Brooder. Despite the warnings, Hunt leads the group into the valley, where they are ambushed. Hunt is captured and imprisoned near Samantha and Nick, witnessing Nick being brutally scalped, bisected alive, and consumed. Hunt tricks several troglodytes into drinking from his liquor flask laced with opium tincture, but the troglodytes throw the flask into a campfire, killing one and knocking another unconscious. The troglodyte leader grows angry at the poisoning, and the troglodytes cut open Hunt's abdomen, shove the now-heated opium flask into the wound, and shoot him. Arthur arrives and aids Hunt in killing the leader. A mortally wounded Hunt stays behind with a rifle, promising to kill the remaining three troglodyte males when they return, to prevent them from terrorizing Bright Hope. Later, three gunshots are heard in the distance.

In Their Own Story

Sheriff Franklin Hunt sits in his office when backup Deputy Chicory reports that brigand Purvis has buried loot. Hunt interrogates Purvis, and when Purvis attempts to flee, Hunt shoots him in the leg. Hunt sends gunslinger John Brooder to fetch the town's doctor, but Brooder instead brings Samantha O'Dwyer, the doctor's assistant. Hunt leaves Samantha in his office with his other deputy, Nick, to tend to Purvis' wounds. That night, a nearby stable boy is killed. Hunt learns of the murder and goes to his office, finding it empty, with an arrow left behind. The Professor links the arrow to a tribe of troglodytes and locates the valley they inhabit on a map. Certain that Samantha, Nick, and Purvis have been captured, Hunt forms a rescue party with Chicory and Brooder. Arthur insists on accompanying them to find his wife, despite his injury. Days into their ride, two strangers stumble across the rescue party's camp and are killed by Brooder. The rescue party is ambushed by raiders who steal their horses. Reaching the valley, the rescue party is ambushed by the troglodytes. Hunt and Chicory are captured and imprisoned near Samantha and Nick. Hunt tricks several troglodytes into drinking from his liquor flask laced with opium tincture. The troglodytes throw the flask into a campfire; one dies while another becomes unconscious. The troglodyte leader grows angry at the poisoning. The troglodytes cut open Hunt's abdomen, shove the now-heated opium flask into the wound, and shoot him. Arthur arrives and aids Hunt in killing the leader. A mortally wounded Hunt stays behind with a rifle, promising to kill the remaining three troglodyte males when they return. Later, three gunshots are heard in the distance.

Reader's Guide

Sheriff Franklin Hunt is the central protagonist of Bone Tomahawk, portrayed by Kurt Russell. He is a stubborn and simple good man whose behavior and tone are very in line with the era of the film. Hunt is the primary law enforcement officer in Bright Hope, and his defining trait is his unwavering sense of duty to protect his town. He leads a rescue party into a desolate region to save three people abducted by a cannibalistic tribe of troglodytes. Despite being mortally wounded—his abdomen cut open and an opium flask shoved into the wound—Hunt stays behind with a rifle to kill the remaining troglodyte males, ensuring they cannot terrorize Bright Hope. His final act is one of self-sacrifice, as three gunshots are heard in the distance after the others leave the valley.

Did You Know?

• Sheriff Franklin Hunt is portrayed by Kurt Russell, who also starred in The Hateful Eight around the same time; Russell had to adjust his hair and beard style to look different between the two films.
• Hunt is shot in the leg by his own gun when brigand Purvis attempts to flee during interrogation.
• Hunt tricks several troglodytes into drinking from his liquor flask laced with opium tincture, but the flask is thrown into a campfire, killing one troglodyte and knocking another unconscious.
• The troglodytes cut open Hunt's abdomen, shove the now-heated opium flask into the wound, and shoot him, yet he still manages to kill the troglodyte leader with Arthur's aid.
• Hunt stays behind with a rifle, promising to kill the remaining three troglodyte males to prevent them from terrorizing Bright Hope, and three gunshots are heard in the distance.