Maren Yearly (Taylor Russell) and Lee (Timothée Chalamet) are two individuals who struggle with their cannibalistic instincts while falling in love in the 2022 horror film Bones And All. Set apart from typical cannibal depictions, these characters possess moral compasses and yearn for a normal life, despite their uncontrollable desire to kill.
The film delivers a shocking yet fitting conclusion to their tragic story, refusing to shy away from the daily sadness that Maren and Lee endure. How does the ending of Bones And All compare to the book it is based on by Camille DeAngelis? Find out by diving into this captivating tale.
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The 2022 horror film Bones And All presents a poignant narrative centering around Maren and Lee, two individuals who share a peculiar trait - cannibalism. Despite the gravity of their situation, the pair embarks on a journey across the United States, grappling with the dilemma of whether to suppress their innate urges or find a way to reconcile with them.
Upon arriving in Columbus, Maren encounters Sully (Mark Rylance), who shares her carnivorous tendencies. Abandoned by her father, Maren is plagued by fears of solitude, but remains undeterred and resolute in her pursuit of a solution. A serendipitous encounter with Lee in an Indiana store reveals a deep-seated connection between the two, further complicating their already complex predicament.
There are countless cannibals portrayed in horror movies, each one more terrifying than the last. However, Bones And All takes a unique approach by presenting a character study of two young adults who are struggling to come to terms with their base instincts. Lee and Maren are both haunted by their desire to consume human flesh, and the film explores their efforts to understand and cope with this compulsion. Watching them discuss their unusual appetites is truly heart-wrenching.
What fate awaits the characters at the conclusion of Bones And All?
The conclusion of Bones and All is not for the faint-hearted. It's unsettling, gruesome, and heartbreaking. Maren discovers from Lee's sister Kayla (Anna Cobb) that their father, who was a heavy drinker and abused them, harmed them before vanishing. The authorities initially suspected Lee of the attack but later realized their mistake.
Lee and Maren rekindle their romance and continue their journey of travelling around the United States together. However, things take a dramatic turn when Lee reveals that his father was also a cannibal, and he ate him. Lee is riddled with guilt, but the couple decides they can refrain from cannibalism and have a normal life. However, when Lee is injured after they kill Sully, he implores Maren to consume him, including his bones. The film ends with Maren consenting to his request.
Although Lee and Maren are technically horror movie villains, the film succeeds in portraying relatable and sympathetic characters. Despite the certainty that they will continue to consume human flesh and be unable to control their urges, it's still challenging not to hope that they can find happiness as regular people.
In the Bones And All book, the ending varies slightly from the movie adaptation. Although Lee meets his demise in both versions, the circumstances leading up to his death differ. In the book, Lee initiates an attack on Maren, resulting in her retaliatory act of consuming him. However, in the movie, Lee is wounded while he and Maren eliminate Sully. Maren chooses to put him out of his misery by consuming him.
It's difficult to determine if the ending of Bones And All is a satisfying conclusion to a horror movie. The fate of the couple, who were so committed to staying together, is unexpected. However, if two cannibals are in a relationship, it seems that this is the only plausible outcome. Is there really any other direction the story could have taken?
The decision for Maren to consume Lee instead of the reverse is crucial. While Lee is vulnerable at times, Maren is much more endearing. She stands out as one of the greatest main characters in horror movies because she embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Despite being unique due to her eating habits, her desire to discover and love herself is relatable. It's heartbreaking that she kills the person she falls in love with, but in a way, this act frees her and allows her to accept herself and progress to the next stage of her journey.