BONES AND ALL (2022)

A unique plot, based on the 2015 novel of the same name, gives way to a tender love story with emboldened performances by Taylor Russell and Timotée Chalamet in Luca Guadagnino’s Bones and All.

In the film, Maren (Russell) and Lee (Chalamet) traverse the country on the outskirts of a society that will never accept them as they search for their own place in the world. Why will society never accept them, you ask? They’re both cannibals. While the premise is truly bizarre, even more wild is how Bones and All manages to suck you in with high quality performances from the leads and Mark Rylance; I found myself surprisingly invested and emotional long after the credits rolled. Russell and Chalamet are magic together, navigating the coming-of-age theme of the plot with poise and precision. Even in the gross scenes that will have you likely averting your eyes, the two young stars find a way to maintain their humanity.

Guadagnino certainly knows how to frame a story and utilize all aspects to his advantage, from gritty camera work to an incredible score, even with moments of silence. It all is packaged together in a disturbing and uneasy presentation that strongly takes its premise seriously, never once making light of the characters’ plights, yet focusing on their journey to find peace, love, and belonging. At times a bit slower than preferable, the beats add up to a heartbreaking experience that I fail to find a worthy comparison for; Bones and All is a distinctive experience. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but once you start watching, its difficult to not find yourself entranced by what you are watching.

Bones and All is now playing in theaters.

Rating: 4/5