Bones Review

Review of Bones (2001) by screenqueeen: 👍 3.5/5

19/100

after looking at the poster and dvd cover for years and years i still didn't know what to expect from this. i guess in my head i was thinking this was a send-up of blacksploitation horror à la J.D.'S REVENGE or BLACULA. it doesn't quite feel like an homage in that sense but it is bold enough to actually do its own thing. that being said, there are some elements of both the above films here plus a little bit of MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH, which i found to be a nice little surprise. at a few points while watching it did feel somewhat e.c. comics-y, but the performances are considerably more reined in here than they were in DEMON KNIGHT. while it does carry some of that energy the charm isn't afraid to lean hard into camp early mostly in all of its present-day parts, which tonally feels separate from the 70s flashbacks but in a way that deepens the performances and weight.

i have a feeling that Dickerson knew if he had laid out the story plainly for his audiences there would be no tension or interest to see it play out. the result is as successful as it could ever be, which is actually a lot of fun once the set-up starts rolling towards its end and the club building starts opening up for business. i love everything with the dog, it's absolutely perfect. it's uncanny how incredible Pam Grier looks in the flashbacks, it does feel like you're seeing her in a feature from that decade. seeing Snoop on screen with her just feels right. i wish there was a little more of Bones post-revival but can't argue with the HELLRAISER-esque way he comes back. this is a really fun one.