Directed by Luca Guadagnino and based on the novel of the same name, Bones and All is coming of age romantic horror road film that stars Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet as the film’s main characters and co-stars Mark Rylance.
After being abandoned by her father, Maren (Taylor Russell) embarks on a trip across America where she meets fellow drifter Lee (Timothée Chalamet) who share a similar bond which leads to the two falling in love. But their horrifying pasts come back to haunt them which tests their romance.
I was amazed at how this film doesn’t stick to the one genre. It is constantly evolving which helps keep you interested in where the film will go to next. At different stages it touches on horror, romance, and being on the road. The film is able to switch genres flawlessly without losing touch of its story and still feeling like you are watching the same film, which I imagine wasn’t easy to achieve.
Besides Bones and All’s multiple genre changes and the marvelous acting performances, the other part that stood out was the film’s score. At times it can be menacing but also beautiful, so I wasn’t surprised to see that the score was written by Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross who have been composing a lot of amazing film scores for several years.
I was also impressed by the acting performances from Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet as Maren and Lee. Both of their characters have lived tragic lives, so it is a nice feeling when they find each other and even though their lives aren’t perfect, they at least have each other, and this comes down to their emotional acting. From their excellent performances, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for their characters and wanted them to somehow live a normal life.
I was only familiar with Taylor Russell from the Escape Room films and this was my first time watching Timothée Chalamet in a leading role, so I am looking forward to seeing future performances from these two. I would also like to give a special mention to Mark Rylance as Sully. His character only makes a couple of appearances in the film but whenever he is on screen, he steals each scene that he is in. His character is so unpredictable that you are unsure if he is going to do something creepy or if he is just misunderstood, but he plays the character to perfection. Part of me would have liked to have seen more of him but I think he has the right amount of screen time to make a strong impact in this film.
I can’t reveal what the bond is between the two characters is without giving too much away but when it is revealed it is both shocking yet unique, and it was totally unexpected. So even though it is disgusting, you can’t help but respect its originality. A large portion of Bones and All is set outside as well, so the film includes a lot of beautiful shots in the sunshine and during sunsets, which is nice to look at even if the films subject matter can be a little difficult to watch at times.
Bones and All is a film that will make you feel different emotions. It can make you sad, happy, and even disgusted but the one thing it isn’t is boring. Bones and All has enough for you to take in to keep you constantly enthralled.
Bones and All will be released in Australian cinemas from the 24th of November 2022.