Bone Face Movie: A Slasher-Inspired Whodunit That Misses the Mark
Horror fans are always on the hunt for the next great slasher flick. When Bone Face first dropped, many thought they were in for a traditional bloodbath at a summer camp. But instead of a full-fledged slasher, the film quickly shifts gears into a small-town murder mystery that takes place almost entirely inside a single location—a diner full of secrets, paranoia, and a potential killer among them.
So, does Bone Face deliver on its promise of horror? Not really. While it has moments of tension, it ultimately feels like a missed opportunity, weighed down by weak characters, lackluster kills, and a mystery that doesn’t quite hold up. Let’s dig into this underwhelming thriller and see if there’s anything redeemable about it.
A Promising Start That Goes Nowhere
The opening of Bone Face sets the tone with what appears to be a classic slasher setup: a group of camp counselors at Camp Marigold are throwing a goodbye party for a fellow worker. The scene has all the ingredients of an old-school summer camp massacre—a remote location, a group of unsuspecting victims, and, of course, an ominous figure lurking in the shadows.
As expected, the counselors don’t make it to morning. One by one, they are picked off in the dead of night. But here’s the problem—most of the kills happen off-screen or in the shadows. The most graphic scene is a quick axe-to-the-back moment before the title card drops, but after that, the carnage is implied rather than shown.
For hardcore slasher fans, this is a massive letdown. When a movie starts with a camp massacre, you expect to see the blood spill in Friday the 13th fashion. Instead, the film transitions into a slow, drawn-out whodunit that struggles to justify its own existence.
From Campfire Kills to Diner Chills (Or Lack Thereof)
After the opening slaughter, the story moves to a nearby diner where Sheriff Vince Cronin (Jeremy London) and his rookie deputy, Jo McCully (Elena Sanchez), stumble upon a grisly clue—Bone Face’s bag of belongings, covered in blood, tossed in the trash behind the restaurant. With nine people dead at Camp Marigold and a bag full of evidence turning up outside a local hangout, the law enforcement duo lock the doors and begin their investigation.
Now, we’re no longer in slasher territory—we’re in an old-school murder mystery. The small-town diner becomes a pressure cooker as a group of seemingly random patrons are forced to stay put while the sheriff questions them one by one. Unfortunately, this shift in focus isn’t handled particularly well. The pacing grinds to a halt, and the film starts feeling more like a cheap stage play than a horror movie.
The Cast: A Lineup of Red Herrings and Cardboard Cutouts
The film introduces a cast of characters, each with a potential motive and a shady past, but none of them are particularly interesting or well-developed.
- Jenny (Alli Hart) – The sharp-witted waitress who exists solely to serve coffee and look suspicious.
- Craig Meredith (Miles Doleac) – A brooding traveler with a backstory that goes nowhere.
- Wes (Jared Bankens) – A local loudmouth with jokes so bad they make the movie feel longer.
- Mick (David Kallaway) – A biker whose tough-guy act isn’t convincing.
- Nadine (Laura Cayouette) – The diner’s owner, who mostly just stands around.
- The Father-Daughter Duo – A pair passing through town, but their connection to Camp Marigold feels forced.
- The Photographer (Ivy Opdyke) – Supposedly in town to take pictures, but mostly just there for filler.
- The Projectionist (Thomas Francis Murphy) – A horror aficionado who comes across more like a parody than a real person.
Each character gets their turn in the interrogation hot seat, but none of them bring enough personality or intrigue to make the mystery feel engaging. Instead of suspense, we get a series of cliche-ridden monologues and aimless conversations.
The Investigation: A Series of Pointless Clues
One of the more frustrating aspects of Bone Face is the way it teases clues that ultimately don’t lead anywhere. At one point, the sheriff examines a pair of blood-stained boots found in the trash. The boots are size 10, so naturally, he starts checking everyone’s shoes.
But after a long, drawn-out scene of measuring feet, we get the thrilling conclusion that… it could still be anyone. Because, as the sheriff explains, women with smaller feet could’ve just worn extra socks, and men with slightly larger feet could’ve simply squeezed into them.
Wow. Groundbreaking detective work.
This sums up a lot of the film’s investigative work—building suspense, only to pull the rug out from under you with a dead-end revelation. The movie wants to keep audiences guessing, but it often feels like it’s just wasting time.
The Killer Reveal: A Predictable Letdown
Without spoiling the twist outright, let’s just say that the killer’s reveal isn’t exactly jaw-dropping. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably already narrowed it down to two or three likely suspects. And when the big moment comes, it’s less of a shocking revelation and more of a “Yeah, that tracks” kind of reveal.
To make matters worse, the killer essentially gives themselves away for no real reason, making the final act feel rushed and unsatisfying. A strong whodunit thrives on a reveal that makes you want to go back and rewatch the film, picking up on clues you might have missed. Bone Face doesn’t quite deliver on that front. Instead, it feels like the movie just picks one of the remaining characters and decides, yep, that’s the one.
Final Verdict: A Forgettable Misfire
If you go into Bone Face expecting a classic slasher, you’ll be sorely disappointed. The opening promises Friday the 13th energy, but the movie quickly pivots into a slow-burn mystery that never fully comes together. The horror elements are there, but they’re too watered down to leave any lasting impact.
That said, if you’re looking for a so-bad-it’s-good experience, there are a few unintentionally funny moments that might make it worth a hate-watch. But for most horror fans, this one is an easy pass.
Final Score: 3.5/10
Pros:
- A decent setup that had potential
- Some unintentionally funny dialogue
- At least it’s short
Cons:
- Weak, off-screen kills
- Dull, meandering mystery
- Uninspired characters
- An underwhelming killer reveal
At the end of the day, Bone Face feels like a movie that doesn’t know what it wants to be. It flirts with slasher tropes but doesn’t commit, and it attempts a murder mystery without any real intrigue. Unless you’re desperate for something new, this one is best left on the shelf.
