Brutal and punishing, intriguing and mesmerizing, The Revenant stands alone in its sheer mastery of the medium. While you might not be able to say you enjoyed it, you can’t help but be in awe of it. And although it’s a man against nature wild western, a genre that is not among my favorites, in my opinion it is one of the top five films of the year.

Alejandro González Iñárritu who brought us last year’s Birdman has outdone himself yet again, possibly redefining filmmaking. He used natural light in freezing temperatures and created images and characters that will stun you — especially that bear, that makes mincemeat of Leonardo DiCaprio. As legendary explorer Hugh Glass, his portrayal is brave, raw and excruciating. Don’t be surprised if this year the much-nominated actor finally takes home an Oscar for his efforts.

The first thing people ask me when I tell them about the film, is always, “What does ‘revenant’ mean?”

“A revenant is a visible ghost or animated corpse that was believed to return from the grave to terrorize the living,” according to Wikipedia. In the beginning, Glass is left for dead when his fellow trappers are attacked by indians. Not only must he travel miles in the snowy dead of winter after being pulverized by said bear, but he must also suffer ultimate betrayal and personal loss. Revenge is, at times, the only thing that keeps him going. The Revenant is based on a true story of ultimate survival.

Look for another outstanding performance from Tom Hardy, this year’s go-to actor, who also gave killer performances as both Kray brothers in Legend, and as the title character in Mad Max: Fury Road, another film on my Top Ten list this year. He’s the ultimate bad guy here, and could be nominated as well for his supporting role.

But it’s Iñárritu’s intensely creative work that is the real star of this show. I’m seriously suggesting you wear a coat and gloves when you see it, because the winter is so harsh and real it will make you shiver. You’ll also shiver with the knowledge that you are watching revelatory filmmaking. This is not your basic popcorn movie, but one that will linger in your mind far longer — if not forever.

Rated R

2 Hours 36 Minutes

Get times and tickets at Fandango.com.

THE REVENANT Review — It Will Make You Shiver