Goddamn 'The Revenant' Trailer Is Stunning

The Revenant, not to be confused with the recent horror-comedy of the same name, has prestige written all over it. Last year’s Oscar-winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Birdman) is back, the film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy, and was lensed by all-star DP Emmanuel Lubezki (Gravity, Children of Men, and too many to name). But it also looks fucking awesome, a fact clearly on display in the first teaser trailer.

This is gorgeous (Lubezki reportedly shot using only natural light) and grim and full of action; there’s a bear, everything is meticulously choreographed (you’d expect nothing left from the director who staged his last film as one continuous shot), and there is ambition for days. While I like Birdman okay, I don’t love it like many and never quite got the hype. So I’m trying to keep my expectations in check (I feel like there's a chance for this to be unfortunately racist), but good lord, look at this trailer.

Here’s the synopsis:

Inspired by true events, THE REVENANT is an immersive and visceral cinematic experience capturing one man’s epic adventure of survival and the extraordinary power of the human spirit. In an expedition of the uncharted American wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. In a quest to survive, Glass endures unimaginable grief as well as the betrayal of his confidant John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). Guided by sheer will and the love of his family, Glass must navigate a vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption.

It seems likely that The Revenant will debut at one of the later in the year film festivals, but it opens wide Christmas Day. So, when you’re done marathoning viewings of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, you’ll have something to double feature with Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight.