The following review makes reference to the 2017 film Marrowbone, and does not contain spoilers of any type.
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Year: 2017 Category: Psychological Horror. Director: Sergio G. Sánchez Cast: George MacKay, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, Mia Goth, Matthew Stagg, Kyle Soller, Nicola Harrison, Tom Fisher.
Plot
Four brothers, fearing to be separated after the death of their mother, hide from the world in their abandoned farm, a place whose old walls hide a terrible secret.
Opinion
In 1968, Rose Marrowbone accompanied by her children; Jack, Jane, Billy and Sam, moves from the United Kingdom to America, fleeing from their past. While there, Rose's young children meet Allie and have some of the best moments of their lives. However, his mother, seriously ill, dies, but not before asking Jack to bury her and keep the secret of her death until he is 21 years old, age with which he can legally take responsibility for his brothers. Since then Jack will be the only one to leave the house, something that arouses suspicion in some people, mainly Tom Porter, the town's lawyer, who in turn is sentimentally attracted to Allie. Slowly the brothers will have to face the fact that represents the absence of their mother, the return of their past and a dark mystery.
When I was watching the film I thought it was of British origin, the European style told me so, but no, surprisingly I was facing a film of Spanish origin. Why the actors, the location, and the whole movie is English? It is another mystery.
The film is basically a family drama with components of psychological mystery technically very well elaborated by the director. Making the film more understood through sentimental experience than through logical understanding. Although it is within the Psychological Horror category, part of the audience assimilated the work dramatically, and even some cried. This is because even though the film includes elements of horror, the sad history of this family predominates.
The direction was good from the technical point of view, the landscapes shown on the screen, the staging, the selection of colors, the shots and the cuts were correct and of good cinematographic level, however, to appreciate the film not is necessary to go to the cinema, it is perfectly enjoyable from the TV screen.
The script makes everyone doubt, and divides the audience and the critics, some think that the script is a fraud, that Sergio G. Sánchez, director and screenwriter, plays with the audience discourteously, while others think that the script is excellent and that transfers greater dimension and complexity to the film. My opinion on the script, and even more on the final twits, is as divided as the audience, on the one hand, it took me by surprise but on the other hand it leaves me more questions than answers.
The performances are fantastic, George MacKay was brilliant, giving us an excellent performance as Jack. Charlie Heaton does a convincing and successful job like Billy. Mia Goth was great, it's a shame she did not have enough prominence, little Matthew Stagg despite his age makes a great performance. Anya Taylor-Joy is really spectacular in this film, she does it very well every time her character appears on the screen. On the other hand, Kyle Soller, he does not do it badly, but his character is a waste, a mere narrative element rather than a character, I detest when the scriptwriter introduces shallow characters only to be sacrificed for a bigger cause.
Finally, I must say that it is a film that I enjoyed a lot, the story moved me and although the end makes us question everything, I feel that it does not ruin the film, because the development of the story is very well done. Undoubtedly, an end that gives something to talk about.
Trailer
Score
7/10
Good direction, script that I consider good, but that includes a twist that changes everything and that will not please everyone, excellent interpretations. A drama full of psychological elements and containing some scares. Technically correct, with a good development but with a questionable ending.
