THE REVENANT teaser trailer sees Leonardo DiCaprio left for dead in the 1800s

The Revenant trailer previews beautiful-looking survival movie

The Revenant, for those unfamiliar with the project, is the newest film from director Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman, Babel). Based on the first teaser trailer alone, the movie looks amazing as both a masterclass in the craft, with its fantastic panning shots, and an epic old world survival story inspired by true events. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as real-life frontiersman Hugh Glass, a man robbed and left for dead in the 1800s after a bear attack. Tom Hardy stars as his companion, John Fitzgerald, and the two look primed for the unforgiving elements and violence of the time. The trailer gives away very little, which is rare these days, and it’s extremely refreshing. I’m hooked, and the movie can’t come quick enough.

Watch the first breathtaking trailer for The Revenant and read a plot synopsis for the film after the jump.

Given Iñárritu’s love for long shots and tricky camera angles, there’s a very good chance The Revenant may give us some of the most amazing landscape and wilderness glances we’ve seen on screen, and I don’t think that’s hyperbole. The man loves his camera, and the battle scene on the shore looks almost like one continuous shot covering the action. That’s the kind of beautiful, immersive technique we film fans love, and the movie is undoubtedly full of unique perspectives and long tracking shots. Pair that with the fact that the film was shot using only natural light, stars two amazing actors at the top of their game, and is based on an unbelievable true story, and we’ve got something special. That said, it’s always a little silly to gush over a film before actually seeing it, but all signs point to awesome in this case.

Here’s a plot synopsis for The Revenant, and the Wikipedia page for Hugh Glass is a pretty interesting read if you’re curious:

Deep in the unchartered American wilderness, hunter Hugh Glass is severely injured and left for dead by a traitorous member of his team, John Fitzgerald. With sheer will as his only weapon, Glass must navigate a hostile environment, a brutal winter and warring tribes in a relentless quest to survive and exact vengeance on Fitzgerald.

The Revenant stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Lukas Haas, Will Poulter, Brendan Fletcher, and Paul Anderson. The movie hits theaters on December 25, 2015. What a nice Christmas present!