Bones and All (2022)
…………………………………………………
Bones and All Movie Review
Bones and All is a 2022 teen horror romance film directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Timothee Chalamet and Taylor Russell. It is an atmospheric, but flawed genre-bender.
………………………………………………….
“Life is never dully with Sully“
…………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………..
Love blossoms between a young woman on the margins of society and a disenfranchised drifter as they embark on a 3000-mile odyssey through the roads 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. This is a cannibal romance essentially, so it is not for everybody, but for those who are into a different kind of romance, it may prove to be an intriguing prospect.
It is interesting that Luca Guadagnino directed this film after Armie Hammer allegations as coincidentally he was a co-star in his movie ‘Call Me by Your Name’. His stylish flair is evident here, but once again he is set back significantly by a rather pedestrian script. These teenagers talk about their first time, how they felt during those moments and whether or not they want to continue living out their strange lifestyles. The metaphor for sexuality, in particular homosexuality is on-the-nose and the entire narrative is riddled with numerous clichés present in young adult fiction.
Where the film does succeed is in the tone and the atmosphere that is very somber, nostalgic and even wistful. Bones and All constitutes a genuine road trip movie in the second half especially and those moments on the road with the gorgeous vistas are the highlights here. The cinematography is particularly wonderful, capturing the beauty of America deftly. The score is also lovely and the movie flows well. It is slow, but far from tedious as its atmosphere has the potential to grip you as a viewer.
…………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………..
Timothee Chalamet is very good as always and quite believable. He is typecast as this handsome, atypically dressed teenager, but he always works well in these roles and this is no exception. But Taylor Russell is the real standout this time around as she stole the movie from Chalamet with a wonderfully tender, superb performance. Her character is clearly the better developed one. Mark Rylance is also memorable in a smaller role.
Bones and All is a cannibal love story that functions as a very interesting genre-bender that’s not for everybody. It succeeds more as a romantic road trip film than a horror one. The movie mostly transcended its familiar young adult narrative and an obvious central metaphor with gorgeous cinematography and a particularly effective, wistful atmosphere.
My Rating – 3.5
Results
