CW- Cannibalism, Spoilers
“Bones and All” is the most recent unconventional love story to prove that not everything has already been done in cinema. This bizarre film starring Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet has created its very own horror subgenre. Directed by the renowned Luca Guadagnini, the film adapts the story of a cannibalistic pair from the titular novel. Additionally, Chalamet’s contribution as executive producer was a long time coming after his many prominent acting roles. When the first trailer dropped in August, many didn’t know what to expect from this movie. Within the first ten minutes of the film, however, the plot quickly takes a dark turn that will stupefy audiences.
Set in the 1980s, the film follows misfit teenager Maren Yearly, who goes on a journey to learn how to lead her life with an appetite for human flesh. Along the way, she meets Chalamet’s character, Lee, who is also an ‘eater’ and follows a similar path in life. As ‘eaters,’ the pair are part of a distinct underground subculture of cannibals. Before meeting Lee, Maren also stumbles upon another key character, Sully, who immediately gives you a creepy feeling that eventually proves to be well-founded.
Surprisingly, even with its gory content, “Bones and All” is an entirely enjoyable watch. Russell opens the film with a sensitive performance that juxtaposes what is to be expected of her cannibalistic character. Likewise, Chalamet and Guadagnini’s collaborative talents showed through their work on a strikingly different film, “Call Me by Your Name”.
Much like Russell’s severely underrated performance in “Waves,” her acting is similarly serious for this dramatic role. Torn between who she is meant to be as an eater and the moral dilemma of following through, Maren shows disdain towards her cannibalistic lifestyle. Chalamet, who is known for his roles in “Beautiful Boy” and “Little Women,” helps to lead the film, and his performance as Lee truly shines near the end of the movie. A surprising addition to this film was Mark Rylance’s role as Sully, who manages to be comedically stoic while also making the audience uncomfortable. The dynamics between these characters creates the intriguing atmosphere of “Bones and All” that keeps viewers reeled in throughout its story.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the film is its visually appealing ‘80s aesthetic and atmosphere. In fact, the film’s stylistic elements are an accomplishment in their own respect. Additionally, the cast is so goo that the movie is worth watching for their acting alone. Complementing their roles is the cinematography, which captures the ‘80s culture with outfits and environments that fit the decade. Guadagnini’s directing and vision for the film translated extremely well to the screen. Despite being a book adaptation, “Bones and All” can be appreciated as a standalone work. With the support of its compelling camerawork and the small cast, this movie is absolutely worth the 130 minutes.
The film’s original score perfectly matches the events that unravel in several cannibalistic scenes. In their liberating road journey, Maren and Lee’s search for their identities as eaters is aided by the chilling music. The soundtrack also supports the film with a song selection that feeds into what is unfolding in each scene. Throughout the entire movie, the score and soundtrack are tactfully selected to fit every moment of the plot.
Whether or not the release of this film will normalize the topic of cannibalism is debatable. The problem of desensitization in Hollywood is a prevalent issue for many. However, with the prior successes of similar films like “Fresh” and “Raw,” this may be the start of a new film niche. “Bones and All” seems to be establishing its own new genre that refreshingly redefines our understanding of horror and love stories. Just when we thought we’d seen every good movie made in 2022, this romantic, cannibalistic tale delivered us a pleasant surprise.
