Bones and All Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two cannibalistic teens fall in love and drive across America eating people, proving that true love really *devours* all.

🍿 Bones and All: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Maren’s Troubled Past

In 1980s Virginia, Maren, a teenager, struggles with a dark secret: she’s a cannibal. After a violent incident at a sleepover, Maren and her father are forced to relocate. As Maren approaches adulthood, her father abandons her, leaving her with clues about her past and a tape detailing her first cannibalistic act as a child. The tape reveals he is anguished by Maren’s lack of remorse and hopes she will overcome her urges.

Meeting Other ‘Eaters’

Driven to find her estranged mother, Maren embarks on a journey to Minnesota. Along the way, she encounters Sully, an older, eccentric ‘eater’ who can sense her presence. Later, in Indiana, she meets Lee, another young eater, after he violently confronts a harassing customer. Lee and Maren bond over their shared condition and begin a cross-country road trip. Their methods differ, Maren is more reluctant than Lee.

Love and Brutality on the Road

As Maren and Lee travel, they face moral dilemmas and the harsh realities of their existence. They encounter other eaters with varying degrees of acceptance of their cannibalistic urges, including a particularly disturbing pair, Jake and Brad. Maren is repulsed, but Lee is intrigued. After Lee kills a man, Maren feels immense guilt learning he had a family. Their journey leads Maren to seek out her grandmother, Barbara, and eventually her mother, Janelle, who resides in a psychiatric hospital.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Maren (Taylor Russell): A young woman grappling with cannibalistic urges embarks on a journey of self-discovery and first love.
• Lee (Timothée Chalamet): An intense and disenfranchised drifter who becomes Maren’s lover and partner in navigating their shared condition.
• Sully (Mark Rylance): An older, unsettling ‘eater’ who becomes obsessed with Maren and represents a predatory aspect of their lifestyle.
• Maren’s Father (André Holland): Maren’s caring father struggles to raise his daughter while concealing her cannibalistic urges.
• Janelle (Chloë Sevigny): Maren’s mother is also an eater, struggling with her own condition.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Jake: “When you eat the whole thing, bones and all. You ain’t done that yet? That’s a big fucking deal. It’s like your first time. There’s before bones and all, and then there’s after.” – Jake explains the significance of consuming a victim ‘bones and all’ to Maren and Lee, highlighting the different levels of experience among ‘eaters’.
• Lee: “I don’t want to need to do it.” – Lee expresses his desire to overcome his cannibalistic urges, revealing his internal conflict.
• Lee: “I want you, Maren” – Expressing his feelings to Maren.
• Lee: “I won’t go to the hospital.” – Lee is scared by the hospital

💰Box Office

• Budget: $16,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $7,834,907
• Worldwide Gross: $15,234,907

💥 Bones and All Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, Bones and All really got to me. I wasn’t expecting to feel so much for these characters who, let’s be honest, eat people! Taylor Russell is incredible, and I totally bought her connection with Timothée Chalamet. The scene where Maren meets her mother was intense and heartbreaking, and the ending… I’m still not over it. It’s a beautiful, messed-up movie that will stick with you long after the credits roll.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell”
  • “Viewers interested in unconventional romance stories”
  • “Audiences who appreciate atmospheric and character-driven dramas”
  • “Those who enjoy films that explore themes of identity and otherness”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence and gore”
  • “Cannibalism”
  • “Mature themes”
  • “Disturbing imagery”
  • “Brief strong language”

Professional Reviews

• IndieWire: “Guadagnino crafts a visually stunning and unsettling love story, anchored by powerhouse performances from Russell and Chalamet. While the cannibalistic elements may be off-putting for some, the film’s exploration of otherness and acceptance resonates deeply. The slow pacing adds to the melancholic atmosphere, creating a truly unique cinematic experience.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “Bones and All is a daring and unconventional film that defies easy categorization. Rylance’s portrayal of Sully is particularly chilling, adding a layer of genuine horror to the already disturbing premise. Though the narrative occasionally meanders, the film’s raw emotional core and striking visuals leave a lasting impression.
• Variety: “While the performances are commendable and the film boasts impressive cinematography, Bones and All struggles to fully realize its potential. The thematic exploration of societal outcasts feels underdeveloped, and the reliance on graphic violence sometimes overshadows the emotional depth of the characters. Still, it is a visually arresting and thought-provoking piece.

Audience Reactions

Taylor Russell’s mesmerizing performance stole the show, showcasing vulnerability and strength in equal measure.: Viewers were captivated by the unique blend of romance and horror, finding the film both disturbing and emotionally resonant.

Mark Rylance’s unsettling portrayal of Sully created a chilling and unforgettable cinematic villain.: The 1980s setting and soundtrack were praised for adding authenticity and atmosphere to the film’s narrative.

Overall Consensus: Bones and All is a divisive but ultimately compelling film, praised for its performances, visuals, and exploration of complex themes, though some found its violence gratuitous and narrative uneven.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Director Luca Guadagnino stated that the fringe in Maren’s hairstyle was directly inspired by the haircut of Stacy Hubka from ‘The Silence of the Lambs’.”
• “The film is based on the novel of the same name by Camille DeAngelis, which explores themes of otherness and societal marginalization through the lens of cannibalism.”
• “Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the haunting score, adding to the film’s atmosphere of dread and longing.”
• “The movie’s budget was an estimated $16 million.”

🖥️ How to Watch Bones and All?

Bones and All is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability on streaming services. A physical copy of Bones and All on Blu-Ray or DVD can be found on Amazon.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Bones and All, you might like these similar films:

• Near Dark (1987): Explores a relationship between two young people on the fringes of society, bound by a dark secret (vampirism) and navigating a violent world.
• Let the Right One In (2008): Features a young outcast who finds connection and love with someone who has very dark needs (vampirism), presenting a story of acceptance amidst the macabre.
• Raw (2016): A coming-of-age story centered around a young woman who discovers a taste for human flesh, dealing with themes of desire and transformation in a visceral way.

🛒 Bones and All Related Products

• Bones & All: A Novel: Immerse yourself in the source material with Camille DeAngelis’s acclaimed novel, offering deeper insights into Maren’s world.
• 80s Retro Throwback T-Shirt Vintage Style Graphic Tee: Rock a vintage 1980s T-Shirt to show appreciation for the movie time setting.
• Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross – Bones and All (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Vinyl]: Own the haunting and atmospheric score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross on vinyl, a must-have for collectors and film music enthusiasts. The ethereal soundscapes perfectly capture the film’s melancholic tone.
• Movie Poster ‘Bones and All’: Original movie poster of the film starring Taylor Russell and Timothee Chalamet, high definition print wall decor.

🎧 Soundtrack

Bones and All features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “The Campfire” – performed by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
• “Swan of Tuonela (Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22/2)” – performed by Jean Sibelius

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

guywithamoviecamera – questions with the cast of #BonesAndAll | Timothée Chalamet & Taylor Russell

Ever wonder what Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell really thought about their roles in ‘Bones and All’? This short interview gives you a peek into their minds – I found their answers super insightful!

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