Luca Guadagnino has had quite an exciting run since 2017. Call Me By Your Name is viewed by many as the best film of 2017 and one I consider pretty good. Unfortunately, after the film’s critical praise, Guadagnino followed Call Me By Your Name up with his most divisive film yet; a remake of the Dario Argento classic, Suspiria. The Argento film is in my top 10 favorite horror films of all time, so to say Guadagnino’s overstuffed remake was a disappointment is an understatement.
Despite being underwhelmed by Suspiria, his new film Bones and All was a film on my radar since early this year. A coming-of-age cannibal horror film that happens to take place in the 1980s? I could not find anything closer to catnip for my cinematic palette.
It’s safe to say I was correct in my assumptions, as Bones and All is a cinematic feast. Luca Guadagnino crafts a meal that blends Badlands with the gore and delight of 1980s cannibal horror. Ripe with tasty performances by Timothée Chalamet, Taylor Russell, and Mark Rylance, the film offers a coming-of-age tale of love and loneliness.
Based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Camille DeAngelis, Bones and All follows Maren Yearly, a young girl who longs to be a typical teenager. Unfortunately for Maren, that’s not possible as Maren longs for the taste of human flesh. After her father abandons Maren on her 18th birthday, he leaves her with a birth certificate, a few bucks, and a cassette explaining why he left and when her cannibalistic nature began.
As Maren begins her journey to discover who her mother is, she encounters a few individuals that share the same taste in their food palette; Sully, who is downright frightening despite his impressive pin collection, and Lee. As she continues her adventure with Lee, the two form a friendship that blossoms into love.
While Bones and All has all the makings of a practical horror meal, David Kajganich’s screenplay effectively dives into the physical and emotional trauma family can have on an individual. With Lee and Maren, Kajganich’s script and Guadagnino’s direction sheds light on their pain and suffering and the importance of their relationship.
Every bit of their relationship’s success falls on Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell. The duo’s chemistry is undeniable as, throughout the film, the two share moments of growth as their bond becomes stronger. Yet, while they are dealing with the complicated circumstances of eating human flesh as a source of survival, the bond they form is ultimately indestructible.
While Call Me By Your Name may be most cinephiles’ favorite performance by Chalamet, it’s hard for me not to lean towards his side of this film. Chalamet’s charisma is infectious as he brings a level of compassion to the viewer despite his immoral actions. From the moment he enters the film, his presence is undeniable. Chalamet has been often praised as one of the best young actors in Hollywood, and his latest collaboration with Guadagnino adds to that resume and conversation.
As great as Chalamet is, Taylor Russell is even better. With her work a few years back in Waves, it’s not surprising to see Russell’s turn in the film. Russell captures the adolescence of Maren while giving a complex and insightful performance. It’s not just that Russell has excellent chemistry with Chalamet, but her screen time with Academy Award winner Mark Rylance should not be undersold.
Yes, Mark Rylance is terrifying in the film, but Russell’s mannerisms and performance throughout her interactions with him aid in the fear factor Rylance’s Sully captures. While it’s not an awards worth performance for Rylance, it’s one of his finest and will be talked about for quite some time.
Arseni Khachaturan’s cinematography is stunning. Capturing the landscapes and era of the 80s can not be ignored. Khachaturan’s lens aids quiet moments between Lee and Maren overlooking the beautiful scenery. Along with the look of the film, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s score is spellbinding. To the surprise of no one, the duo continues to grow in their sound, and their use of synth to capture to aesthetic of 80’s horror is quite impressive.
In a year where X and Pearl set the standard of horror, Bones and All steps into the pantheon of the top tier of the genre of 2022. It’s a film that, while difficult to watch in its most gruesome moments, is full of heart and laughs. It’s a film that’s set to fulfill your cinematic palette.
