Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino is stateside in a gory, if sweet tale which thematically engages addiction, identity, and legacy.
His Bones and All finds an off-the-grid sensibility in the romantic horror road movie form utilizing a vampiric premise from a 2015 young adult novel from Camille DeAngelis, with not that much insight into its subtext.
An originality comes from the human bonds forged nestled into deeper societal conditions with jarring honesty. Wary soulfulness comes from a breakout Taylor Russell as ‘hungry’ Maren. Timothee Chalamet (Dune) has understated allure as Maren’s partner in 1980s Virginia. Yucky charm is exuded from Mark Rylance’s Sully, while unhappy disapproval is all over the fatherly Andre Holland. And, Chloe Sevigny has a strong brief part as Maren’s elusive mom.
Not for everyone indeed is this usually lurid, if poignant and episodic symbiosis of marginalized lifestyle.