Bones and All is a completely captivating film that might be difficult for some to watch, but if you can stomach it, it’s an absolute must see.
Bones and All is a movie about cannibals on paper, but it is so much more than that if you are willing to let it be. Maren (Taylor Russell) and Lee (Timothée Chalamet) find themselves at the center of an awkward love story as they travel the backroads of America in an effort to learn more about Mare’s past, while Lee runs from his. The overall message is one of morals.
Can someone who does bad things, but for what they believe to be a valid reason, live as a human being and be considered a decent person? That is what this movie touches on. It gets dark at times, and is often bloody and grotesque. Some viewers will need to cover their eyes while watching and some might even cover their ears as well (because yes, the sound design is on point).
Bones and All doesn’t take long to start shocking viewers, with the first twist for those who go in blind happening less than ten minutes in. For a two hour and ten minute movie this is quite impressive, proving the filmmakers did not want to waste even a minute of that runtime on the mundane.
The story itself is intriguing almost instantly as Taylor Russell is a great leading lady. Her character is a lot different than we might expect her to be, and yet she is somehow relatable in a way. She seems to always be questioning who she is, where she came from, and if she can be a good person. While Maren comes across another interesting character, Sully (Mark Rylance), on her journey, the movie doesn’t completely find itself until Chalamet’s Lee comes into the picture.
These two have an instant spark, an on screen chemistry that feels wrong but you can’t help but look away from it. It isn’t long before the viewers realize these two are good for each other, and need each other, which is well before the characters themselves figure it out.
The love aspect is what makes Bones and All a somewhat charming movie. Audiences shouldn’t be rooting for any of these people to be happy because of how they act and the things they do, but Lee and Maren will cause you to do so. Something about their relationship is sweet and endearing. Russell and Chalamet are the perfect casting choices, as they bring life to these characters. They are relatable in a bizarre way, and easy to trust. Which honestly, makes no sense because we see how far they are willing to push the envelope to do what they need to.
Sully clearly represents the darker side of things, and what isolation can do to a person, while Lee is the brighter side of their dark secret. Both sides blur the line every now and then, whether on purpose or not, but ultimately Lee and Sully remain the two polar points while Maren bounces around in the middle.
This is the only real issue with Bones and All. While yes, it makes sense for Sully to be a part of the story, especially as you get to the end of the film, he feels out of place at times. The love story is able to shine through despite his presence, but he takes away from it here and there. The intent is for him to make the audience feel uncomfortable and he certainly accomplishes it.
Still, we can’t help but think this movie would have been better off without him. Because then the focus could have been solely on Maren and Lee, and the personal issues that they go through involving their families with each other. The other reason Sully is disruptive to the story is far too much of a spoiler to discuss. But once you see Bones and All, you will know exactly what we are talking about.
For a film that is over two hours long, it doesn’t drag too often. The story is so captivating and interesting that it never feels its length. There is a lot packed in here and all of it is worth exploring. Bones and All seems to take place in the 1980s and focuses heavily on drifters, and what their stories might be. Some of the visuals are quite intense, but they are necessary to make the movie work as well as it does.
A twisted story about love, family, and morality, this movie is somehow charming and endearing even when it shouldn’t be. The two leads are phenomenal, the direction is superb, and the visuals exactly as they should be – grotesque. It might be hard to swallow for some, but others will devour it. Bones and all.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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About Bones and All
Love blossoms between a young woman on the margins of society and a disenfranchised drifter as they embark on a 3,000-mile odyssey through the backroads of America. However, despite their best efforts, all roads lead back to their terrifying pasts and a final stand that will determine whether their love can survive their differences.
Bones and All hits theaters on November 23rd.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.