User Reviews

"Bones and All" follows Maren, a young woman in 1980s Maryland who discovers she has an inherited "curse" of sorts--one that propels her to give into vampiric cannibalism, from which her father attempted to protect her for years. As she attempts to make her way on her own, she becomes emotionally involved with Lee, another "feeder" of her own kind, spurring a romance over a weeks-long period of drifting through the midwest. Naturally, the two leave a trail of blood behind them.

This film marks director Luca Guadagnino and screenwriter David Kajganich's follow-up to 2018's "Suspiria" remake, and is based on a novel of the same name (which, for context I have not read--so I cannot really comment on how the film treats its source material). While this is an imperfect film in some ways, I found it particularly enjoyable for the first several acts, largely due to its intoxicating atmosphere, which is probably what this film achieves best above anything else. The period details, dreamy cinematography, and rustic filming locations make the first hour or so of the film particularly engrossing as the two main characters drift through them, leading up to a search for Maren's biological mother.

Aside from the haunting, gothic midwestern locations and cinematography, the film also offers strong performances from all involved. Taylor Russell gives a pointed and intelligent performance as the lead, who is marred by internal conflict and questions about who (and why) she is. Timothee Chalamet plays counterpoint as a troubled but likable youth from the Kentucky rustbelt whom she soon falls in love with, while Michael Rylance gives a disturbed portrayal of another elder eccentric "feeder" who becomes strangely obsessed with Russell's character. Folded into the film's psychological conflicts are some clear metaphors for disenfranchised youth--particularly lost gay teenagers--though the film appreciably does not browbeat this theme.

As the first several acts of the film roll on, the film feels like a 1980s-set take on "Badlands" with a quasi-supernatural twist, and leads up to a chilling confrontation between Russell and Chloë Sevigny, who plays a small (but pivotal) role that is as perplexing as it is haunting. The emotional gravitas of the film unfortunately loses steam as it moves from this peak toward its conclusion, which, though disturbing (and oddly moving), feels somewhat disconnected in tone from what leads up to it. I got the sense that the filmmakers stumbled a bit in the way the finale is telegraphed, and, though it is still emotionally fraught, the material nearly edges too far into speculative teen fiction territory, which it mostly seemed to be working against in the first hour or so.

Despite the somewhat clunky finale, however, I found the film largely absorbing due to its pitch-perfect atmosphere and smart performances. While I have little hope that the film will make a mark in terms of financial success, I do see "Bones and All" having a future in the years to come as a pulpy midnight movie appreciated for its haunting depiction of youth drifting along the fringe of society. 7/10.

Starts off like any other coming of age movie then gets pretty gore real quick. It's basically a travel blog movie with narration. Even for a cannibalist movie all the characters seem to act unnaturally, maybe that's just how they were meant to be acted out since these aren't your normal folk. It's a movie that you might want to know what it's about heading in. I didn't really, but I'm luckily not the faint of heart but I can see people coming out saying it's disgusting or vile just like Flesh which was an earlier(and better imo) addition in the genre from this year.

Even for what the movie was about it was unnecessarily bloody, which made it seem over the top so that didn't really feel real to me, less believable graphic and gruel. For a while I thought it'd end up as something like a crossover between American honey and ladybird; in a way it is although it never gets as good as either of those. It's less horror, more like a road trip love story, has an interesting premise but it doesn't make the most of it. It's just floating in the middle, could've been more romantic, more unsettling, or more peculiar, lacks all around passion.

It feels a little like a dystopian future, because it mostly follows eaters only and they all have unique colorful personalities or appearances so this is how the world's perceived; yet it's all in the 80's America.

The romance side of it made sense, but the chemistry didn't feel believable. Similar to CMBYN which people did love though. The movie lacks any depth and the characters feel paper thin. It made sense for the lead characters to end up together but I didn't care much for them, so when the emotional scenes come it felt empty. It is visually appealing with beautiful camerawork of the scenery, quite some focus was to the red hair as the color stuck out from everything else. So I've watched two of Luca Guadagnino works now and I don't know if his trademark is beautifully made but hallow movies. You could deduce something meaningful behind it all but I think it'd be reaching. The actors did as well as you'd expect with what they're given. Most of them having worked with Luca before.

Cannibalism aside, I see a lot of similarities to call me by your name, I think this movie had a lot more to offer, I expected more but just like CMBYN, maybe I just don't get it and people will find beauty and meaning in this and I am just the one who doesn't get it.

UPDATE: Yup, just what I expected is happening. People talking about how beautifully shot this is, every scene worth bearing resemblance to a painting. And it's all true, it is visually appealing but it just feels hallow and lacking intimacy as I don't feel the connection between characters. I guess it's my life's tragedy that I'll never understand the hype around Luca Guadagnino's works. I enviously read the reviews praising CMBYN and Bones and all, wishing I could see what they see.

Movies such as this are ones that can be placed under the Umbrella term "divisive". And for good reason; if you haven't seen the movie and know going in asides from one incredibly brutal scene at the beginning that's already in the trailers, telling anyone the plot of the film would find it hard to listen in.

So you have a choice: do you dismiss the movie for the subject and the fact we're being presented with a challenging thing, or do you accept or try to accept the movie's quality of the direction, cinematography and performance as things to praise? And there is a lot to praise.

The plot of the movie follows a young girl called Maren Yearly played by Taylor Russell. After being invited to a sleepover and attacking one of the girls there, her and her father Leonard played briefly by Andre Holland run. After her 18th birthday, Leonard abandons Maren as he can no longer control her impulses, leaving her to make her own way in the world; she decides to track down her mother, Janelle, and on the way encounters other "eaters", the creepy Sully played by Mark Rylance, and the young charismatic Lee played by Timothee Chalamet. The latter of these she starts a sweet but co-dependent romance with, and the former will stalk her throughout the story up to the violent end.

First things first, yes the movie refers to cannibals such as Maren, Lee and Sully as "eaters". It does keep the movie in a very weird spot where it's trying to be kind of young adult in the handling of the subject, in a way to stop it boiling over too far. In many ways it helps, but it does make Maren a little bit too innocent. In many ways, Maren is a likeable character who displays a moral code; for example, she was disgusted with bit character Jake when he reveals that he eats people because he likes it, and was distraught when Lee killed and ate a man with a family. In the film you see her trying to be a normal person who just happens to have this insane compulsion, and Russell plays it well.

Timothee Chalamet is the it boy right now for movies and if you're looking for a young, attractive man who can pull off being still very dangerous, Chamalet is the man. Lee really does pull off this part well as he makes this part work and make the romance grow well. His chemistry with Russell is awesome and even if the romance between two cannibals is bad news for society and is, like I said, very co-dependent, they both make it work.

Other actors like Andre Holland and Michael Stuhlburg, playing the aforementioned Jake, make their parts memorable. Chloe Sevigney played Janelle, Maren's mother who is also an eater and the cause of her addiction. Sevigney, who is non verbal in the film and lacking hands, also makes her part viseral and violent, as well as tragic for the self-committed fate of her.

However, the best supporting performance of the film BY FAR is Mark Rylance playing the very predatory eater Sully. Rylance, who traditionally plays very warm, loving and noble characters, plays a character who is very unnerving but also not flat. This is a part that could've been played very joyless and bland, but Rylance gives Sully a lot of tics and mannerisms that make him feel genuine and real. And it's important that's the case, so when he tells Maren "never eat an eater" we believe him, and when he's hurt by Maren running away from him, we also believe it. The character is dangerous as we see him consuming on the body of a woman he was waiting to die naturally, and he also kills a character that was close to Maren and Lee albeit off screen, emphasising his impact on the story.

Director Luca Guadagnino shoots the movie with the same honesty and focus as with Call Me By Your Name, and thesoundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is awesome especially the unnerving Campfire track. Also, the use of Cannibalism as a allegory for not just romance within the film but also poverty was very interesting, and the backdrop of 1980's America emphasises this. Overall, I do have to say the movie is almost perfect. There are, however, two massive issues:

• Firstly, there is an emptiness to some of the scenes. For example, the scene with Jake, asides from giving the idea of "Bones and All" to consume a person entirely, doesn't go anywhere beyond and is never referenced again. Also, there seems to be a lot of eaters in this world but none of them are ever connected which seems strange, even moreso that civilians aren't more aware of this. The meeting with Janelle also isn't really looked into again, and Leonard is never shown outside of memories.

• The ending. Now, the ending scene, a lot happens, as Sully finds and corners Maren in her flat and pins her to the bed in a scene where Rylance makes a serious case for an Oscar nomination (which I hope he gets). Then Lee comes home and a fight ensues where Sully is killed, but he fatally stabs Lee in the lung. Whilst dying, and knowing what going to the hospital means, Lee asks Maren to eat him "bones and all". Which she does. But then the movie stops. First of all, why aren't we shown the affect this has on Maren? And also, one of the big arcs, that is still left unresolved, is what kind of eater Maren turns herself into. We're given examples all through the film of the different codes held by Sully, Lee, Jake and Janelle, but when it comes time to let Maren decide she's not shown to make it. And it makes the ending feel incomplete and inconclusive. The book the movie is based off has no sequels, and actually does give an answer to this question which no one liked as it outright states Maren becomes a predator like Sully. Yes that might've been heartbreaking, but it's better than the nothing we got. It's not the worst ending to a movie this year - Don't Worry Darling firmly holds that - but it's still worth mentioning for a film this well made and acted.

The ending doesn't break the film, but it does hold it back. I did enjoy it though; due to the fusion of genres, there'll be something to enjoy whether its the romance or the horror or the great visuals. Give it a try, although it isn't an easy sit at all.

I got the privilege to see bones and all last night at the Venice film festival.

Before going in, I got to the the entire cast walk downtown the red carpet so I was definitely pumped and excited to see it.

I will add no spoiler but mostly I will describe the rollercoaster of feeling I got throughout the movie.

Throughout the entire movie the direction manages to visually captivate the audience the whole time. I did not take my eyes from the screen. He captures the north east states of USA beautifully while in the summer . The movie takes place in the late 80s and therefore expect some 80s tracks which makes the movie feel a bit retro and indie in some parts.

Now, turning the corner page, the other wave of emotions are definitely some you don't experience on a daily basis.

The movie handles a very delicate topic which is cannibalism from the deep subconscious and takes you through the hurdles these people with this condition go through.

It is very hard to feel sorry for the characters and their situation given most of the time you will feel shocked and a bit or a lot grossed out by some of the gruesome scenes.

Once you relax and if you manage ( which is not easy after the first cannibals episode 14 mins in) you can actually start focus more on the physiological side of the movie and less on the cannibal attacks.

Overall, if you manage to not care about some really disturbing scenes the movie can be a interesting piece of work exploring this condition.

Definitely don't take your gramma or mom to see this movie and I recommend perhaps leaving the popcorn on the floor.

I love Luca Guadagnino and the film is well and carefully shot, and the gore touches make it interesting and special. The main problem is how it seems to deal with two quite unconnected stories, one being the film's particularity, the discourse on people with deviances such as cannibalism, the second being the love story. And unfortunately in this context the love story, or the way it is portrayed, does not work.

All the side characters, primarily Sully, are fantastic in rendering this violent and deviant reality, giving the film those grotesque traits to tell such a story. The two leads are good but have to work with a problematic script. When it comes to such a disorder, one cannot treat it with less seriousness only in the portrayal of the protagonists, in an attempt not to make them unpleasant. It is a pity because with a little more courage their relationship could also have been interesting, it is instead treated as a kind of teenage love story where cannibalism is almost romanticised and all in all is a problem that can be overcome without too much difficulty if one puts oneself in the right mindset.

The "eat me" ending is then really stupid and forced, crossing the fine line between grotesque and ridiculous.

There are two types of Awards bait movies: ones that have all of the aesthetics of a prestige film (slow storytelling, long drawn out shots of absolutely nothing, big names attached) but are really lame to watch, and those that are legitimately good. Bones and All (I really want to put Bones n' All) is the latter. This is a legitimately good, if not flawed movie.

The Good:

1. Taylor Russell, lil Timmy, and Rylance. This is a film with a surprisingly small cast for a road trip movie, but man, I loved ever performance here. Mark Rylance absolutely killed it as Sully, in a performance I consider equally hammy and super effective for what he was going for. By the end, he is absolutely terrifying and I loved it. Timothee Chalamet is great, he always is. He and Russell had electric chemistry and I really felt he was his character; I really didn't see him as Timothee Chalamet, but as Leon.

But as you've probably heard, Taylor Russell is amazing in this movie. She is absolutely perfect, she melts into her character (Maren), and there's a vulnerability and tenderness to her that makes it impossible not to root for her. Which is surprising considering...

2. The subject matter. The opening sequence of this film is truly incredible, brutal, messed up, and jarring. And I loved it. I get quite squeamish about cannibalism (as i hope most sane people do), but the way it's handled here (with a vague supernatural element, and more zombie like - you'll get what I mean), is surprisingly tasteful. Don't get me wrong, it's a disgusting and hard-to-watch movie. But it's handled better than I'd hoped. As with..

3. The tone. This movie went a faster clip and was more "conventional" than I was expected; and look, I love when films take risks and are creative, but given what the movie's about, I think it was a good idea to follow a more traditional structure. This is an old fashioned road trip and romance movie, and it does both pretty well. There are some ethereal, odd moments, but they're appropriately for what is a fundamentally odd movie. This film never felt pretentious to me, which is a good thing.

4. The romance and the ending. I really bought Maren and Leon's relationship to such an extent that I honestly forgot about how fundamentally evil they are. It's a real feat when a film can do that, honestly. The ending too was...devastating, so well done, and absolutely brutal. I loved it.

The Bad:

1. Pacing. I think the film drags a bit in the middle and spins its wheels a little too much; there is a plot element that arises with Michael Stuhlbarg, a fellow cannibal who tracks Maren and Leon down in Kentucky, that doesn't really go anywhere and I felt that was a shame. I get the film was more about their romance than anything else, and it's not like this film needed to be longer, but it did seem like a plot dead end.

Bones and All isn't just weird for the sake of it. It's a wonderful, twisted horror romance that I'd watch again in a heartbeat. It deserves the hype.

I had no idea what this film was about nor who was in it so I went in totally blind. It was a little slow to take up the pace, but the instant Maren bit her school friends finger I knew I was into it.

I didn't recognise Russel at first, or Rylance, or Sevigny! But Rylance completely blew me out of the water with his understated performance.

I've never seen Chalament act but he is such an engaging young man, he really took his part.

There were some empty spaces in the plot, but while I saw them they did not harm the film in anyway. I loved how the narrative circled the actors like vultures waiting for a rabbit to die, but never actually settling.

I am not going to rave about this film but I gave it my base 6 which is recognition of a very enjoyable film.

I adore the three lead actors chosen for this film. They're absolute powerhouses in every story they take part in, and this is no exception. Here, they embody their characters with subtlety and an eerie yet graceful presence that allowed me to see them as simultaneously monstrous and sympathetic.

There's quite a lot that Bones and All has to love, from the cinematography to the many powerful scenes that focus on Maren's struggle with whether or not she's a monster who deserves to be alone.

It's just a shame that I don't think the film every really hits the mark on what it's trying to convey.

This adapted screenplay skirts around the moral implications of these cannibalistic characters' actions without ever really nailing down a purpose for it all.

There are two or three wonderful scenes in which their horrific and brutal actions are discussed; Maren doesn't want to have these desires, while Lee embraces them. The conflict is there, and it's tangible, but it never goes beyond this point.

For most of the movie, nobody's boundaries are pushed. Every contentious moment either has a rapid resolution or is forgotten and not resolved at all.

The events of the story play out and the impact that they have on the characters is...never really felt. I never really felt anything because the characters just seem to move on from each happening like nothing happened at all.

There isn't really a sense of cause and effect from scene to scene. Beautiful images and captivating performances just appear and disappear on screen until the movie is over.

If the writing had been tighter and the characters felt more involved in their own story, it could have been truly special. Instead, I'll forget it rather quickly.

Bones and All was a heartbreaking love story between two lost young adults trying to find their way.

Although this movie is gruesome, extremely violent and may receive backlash for fetishizing cannibalism, it is an overall beautiful film. Luca Guadagnino is truly an artist and can make even the worst characters into the one's we root for.

Taylor Russel was phenomenal; I believe she made this movie truly what it is - a coming of age horror film. She is captivating and portrays Maren in a way that feels authentic. As we watch her in her most disgusting primal state, it is still hard to look away.

As the story follows Maren, we quickly learn what her desires are... to eat people. Her whole life her dad has been protecting her and helping her get away with all the horrible things that she continues to do. Growing up, Maren thought she was the only one of her kind, or what is later referred to as "eaters" when she first meets another cannibal.

Early on we learn that Maren has never met her mother and is hoping that she will hold the answers to all of the questions Maren has about herself. As Maren is searching to find her mother, she meets another eater, Lee (Timothee Chalamet,) who agrees to help her find answers.

Although I was a big fan of Timothee Chalamet prior to watching Bones and All, I am an even bigger fan now. Timothee can truly bring any character to life on screen. He continues to explore his acting range; Bones and All makes it very clear how much he is capable of. I loved seeing his portrayal of Lee and am excited to see what he does in the future.

As this horrifying story unfolds into chaos, we learn who these characters are and what they are capable of.

"Bones and All" is becoming known as the "cannibal" movie, but there's a lot more going on here than that.

It won't be to everyone's...ahem....taste, but some will probably be very moved by it. I wasn't one of them, but I liked it much more than I thought I would based on the premise.

A lot of people are going to debate what the cannibalism is a stand in for. The most obvious interpretation is addiction. But at other times it seems to be about sexuality or mental illness. I think really it's just meant to evoke different-ness, and how hard the world is for people who carry their baggage around with them and don't feel like they're ever going to belong anywhere because of it. It is a gross movie for sure, probably grosser than it needs to be. But it's also a rather sweet and melancholy film too.

Mark Rylance was the film's wrong note for me. He gives a ghoulish, over the top performance, and forces a nasty ending that the movie didn't need. But the performances of the two main actors, Timothee Chalamet and Taylor Russell, are quite good.

Grade: A-

Bones and All is a coming-of-age story set in the world of supernatural cannibals known as "eaters," whose hunger has outcast them to the far reaches of society. The film follows protagonist Maren, played by a tour-de-force performance by Taylor Russell, as she grapples with her own identity as an eater and her relationship with Lee, played by Timotheé Chalamet, who is also an eater.

Director Luca Guadagnino's change between slow paced lingering shots & use of quick, sharp edits creates a viscerally potent atmosphere, making the film feel gut-wrenching at times especially in feeding or dream scenes.

The relationship between Maren and Lee is heartwarming and tragic, as they struggle to accept each other for who they are despite the rest of the world viewing them as monsters.

Mark Rylance's ominous and at times menacing portrayal of Maren's stalker Sully adds depth to the complexities of the moral dilemmas faced by the eaters.

Maren's journey is one of self-discovery and acceptance, as she comes to terms with her father's departure, her mother's rejection, and the challenges of surviving as an eater. The film explores the idea of isolation versus connection, as Maren and Lee find solace in each other, while characters like Sully are isolated and become consumed by their hunger.

Throughout the film, Maren grapples with her past and the events that have shaped her life. Through conversations with her adopted grandmother and the discovery of a tape left by her father, Maren begins to understand herself and her place in the world. The film's theme of history and its lingering effects is highlighted through the character of Lee and his struggle with the guilt of his father's death, as well as Sully and the physical reminders of his past.

Overall, Bones and All is a powerful and atmospheric exploration of identity, love, and the consequences of our actions. The performances by Chalamet, Russell, and Rylance are captivating, and Guadagnino's direction creates a visceral experience for the audience that will linger on long after the credits roll.