Bones and All (2022), directed by Luca Guadagnino, is a haunting mix of horror, romance, and road movie. Adapted from the novel by Camille DeAngelis, it follows two young cannibals navigating love, loneliness, and survival in Reagan-era America. The film combines Guadagnino’s lyrical filmmaking style (known from Call Me by Your Name) with deeply unsettling horror elements.
Detailed Summary
The Beginning: Maren’s Dark Secret
Maren Yearly (Taylor Russell) lives with her father, Frank (André Holland), who keeps her under tight control. One night, she sneaks out to a sleepover and, in a horrifying moment, bites off another girl’s finger. Her father, realizing Maren cannot suppress her cannibalistic urges, packs up and flees with her. Soon after, he abandons her, leaving behind a cassette tape explaining that she inherited her condition and must find her own way.
Meeting Sully: The Smell of Death
Maren soon meets Sully (Mark Rylance), an older “eater” who can smell others of his kind from miles away. Sully lives by a strict moral code — he only eats people who are about to die. His eerie politeness and soft-spoken demeanor conceal a deeply disturbing side. He teaches Maren how to survive, but she leaves him abruptly after sensing his possessive nature.
The Road and the Stranger Named Lee
While traveling through the Midwest, Maren encounters Lee (Timothée Chalamet), another young eater. Unlike Sully, Lee is rebellious, raw, and charming. Together, they embark on a road trip filled with stolen cars, roadside diners, and quiet moments of tenderness. Their relationship deepens, even as they feed on victims — sometimes out of necessity, sometimes out of shared compulsion.
Searching for Roots
Haunted by questions about her origins, Maren tracks down her estranged mother, Janelle (Chloë Sevigny), who has been institutionalized. The visit offers no comfort: Janelle, also a cannibal, has mutilated herself to prevent further killing. This encounter devastates Maren, confirming that her condition runs deep and may never be cured.
Freedom and Fracture
As the journey continues, Maren and Lee try to imagine a future together — one where they can live “normally.” But the world they inhabit is too brutal and their urges too strong. In one unsettling encounter, they meet two other eaters (played by Michael Stuhlbarg and David Gordon Green), whose casual cruelty horrifies them. It’s clear that, for all their humanity, Lee and Maren exist in a predatory ecosystem they cannot escape.
Movie Ending
In the film’s emotionally devastating finale, Sully returns. Obsessed with Maren, he has followed her and Lee for months. He breaks into their apartment and attacks them in a grotesque display of jealousy. Lee kills Sully, but not before being fatally wounded in the struggle.
As Lee lies dying, Maren cradles him. He tells her, “Eat me… bones and all,” allowing her to consume him completely — a symbolic act of union and acceptance. Maren, devastated but resolute, obeys. She eats him “bones and all,” fulfilling the metaphorical and literal title of the movie: love and hunger, entirely intertwined.
The film ends ambiguously, with Maren alone once more, having absorbed Lee — not just physically, but emotionally. The closing scene suggests she has embraced her nature, though it’s uncertain whether she’s liberated or condemned by it.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Bones and All does not feature a post-credits scene. The ending itself serves as a powerful and complete emotional conclusion. However, the credits roll over haunting music that deepens the film’s melancholic tone.
Type of Movie
Bones and All is a romantic horror road film — a rare blend of genres. It’s equal parts coming-of-age story, existential drama, and grotesque love story. Guadagnino described it as a “tender cannibal movie,” and somehow, he’s not wrong.
Cast
- Taylor Russell as Maren Yearly
- Timothée Chalamet as Lee
- Mark Rylance as Sully
- André Holland as Frank Yearly
- Chloë Sevigny as Janelle Yearly
- Michael Stuhlbarg as Jake
- David Gordon Green as Brad
Film Music and Composer
The ethereal, melancholic score was composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who bring their signature emotional depth to the story. The soundtrack includes acoustic guitars, minimalist piano, and ambient electronic textures. The standout song, “(You Made It Feel Like) Home”, captures the tragic beauty of Maren and Lee’s doomed love.
Filming Locations
The film was primarily shot across the American Midwest, including Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. These vast, empty landscapes underscore the characters’ isolation and their nomadic existence. Guadagnino used natural light and long road shots to highlight the bleak, nostalgic beauty of 1980s small-town America.
Awards and Nominations
- Venice Film Festival 2022 – Silver Lion (Best Director) nomination for Luca Guadagnino
- Taylor Russell won the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress at Venice
- Nominated for multiple Independent Spirit Awards including Best Feature and Best Cinematography
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Guadagnino and Chalamet reunited after Call Me by Your Name, but this time with a much darker twist.
- The cast underwent workshops to portray “eaters” as human beings rather than monsters.
- Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet improvised several of their intimate scenes to make the relationship more natural.
- Mark Rylance developed Sully’s voice and mannerisms based on “old Appalachian preachers” and reportedly stayed in character between takes.
Inspirations and References
The movie is adapted from the 2015 novel Bones & All by Camille DeAngelis. While the book focuses more on self-discovery and morality, the film leans into atmosphere and psychological horror. Guadagnino described the story as “a love story about outsiders, about people who can’t fit into society’s mold.”
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
While there are no officially confirmed alternate endings, early script drafts included a scene where Maren walks into the wilderness after consuming Lee, hinting at her transformation into something almost supernatural. Guadagnino ultimately chose a quieter, more introspective ending. Some deleted scenes featured more background on Lee’s troubled family life.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The film remains largely faithful to the novel but adds stylistic and emotional depth:
- In the book, Maren’s cannibalism is treated more as a metaphor for loneliness; the film makes it more visceral and cinematic.
- The novel’s ending is more philosophical, while the film’s finale is intimate and tragic.
- Sully’s role is expanded significantly, turning him into a central antagonist.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Maren’s first act of cannibalism at the sleepover — shocking and intimate.
- Sully’s creepy introduction, complete with his hair-braided trophies.
- The roadside scene where Lee dances to Kiss’s “Lick It Up.”
- Maren meeting her mother in the asylum — silent horror at its finest.
- The final “bones and all” moment — both horrifying and heartbreaking.
Iconic Quotes
- Sully: “Never eat an eater.”
- Lee: “Everybody’s got their own thing. This is ours.”
- Maren: “What if love means eating someone whole?”
- Frank: “There’s nothing wrong with you that can’t be fixed by understanding who you are.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The title Bones and All is mentioned only once — by Jake (Michael Stuhlbarg), referring to the rare act of consuming someone entirely.
- Guadagnino subtly references Call Me by Your Name through similar visual motifs: sun-drenched rural America, lonely roads, and tender first love.
- The recurring motif of smell connects all “eaters” — it’s a symbolic representation of identity and recognition.
- The film’s time period (1980s) is chosen deliberately: a world before digital connections, emphasizing isolation.
Trivia
- The film was shot chronologically to help the actors track their emotional journey.
- Guadagnino used minimal CGI for gore; most effects were practical.
- Timothée Chalamet also served as a producer, marking his first production credit.
- Taylor Russell reportedly fasted for certain scenes to physically convey hunger and desperation.
Why Watch?
Watch Bones and All if you’re drawn to emotionally charged, beautifully filmed stories that blend love and horror. It’s not just a cannibal movie — it’s a poetic meditation on identity, desire, and the lengths we go to be understood.
Director’s Other Movies
- Call Me by Your Name (2017)
- Suspiria (2018)
- A Bigger Splash (2015)
- I Am Love (2009)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Raw (2016)
- Let the Right One In (2008)
- Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
- The Neon Demon (2016)
- We Are What We Are (2013)
- Near Dark (1987)
