A sadly underseen thriller movie gem is airing on TV tonight

Stephen Porzio

Though loved by critics and featuring an A-lister in one of the lead roles, the movie was not a box-office hit when it was released in cinemas.

Our TV movie pick for tonight (Friday, 29 November) is Bones and All, the 2022 romantic horror thriller road trip film from director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name, Challengers).

Based on a novel by Camille DeAngelis, the horror stars Taylor Russell (Escape Room) as Maren, a young woman afflicted with a strange vampire-like condition that leaves her craving to eat human flesh.

Shortly after her 18th birthday, Maren’s father (André Holland, Moonlight) – who has grown tired of covering up for his daughter’s crimes – abandons her, leaving the teenager to embark on a road trip across America to find her estranged mother (Chloë Sevigny, Zodiac).

Along Maren’s travels, she meets a young man named Lee (Timothée Chalamet, Dune) with the same cannibalistic urges as her, with whom she forms a strong bond.

However, she also encounters an enigmatic, sinister older man and fellow ‘eater’ (Oscar-winner Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies) who forms an unsettling obsession with her.

An eclectic blend of a road trip movie, a teen romance and a gory horror, Bones and All nails its strange blend of tones.

This is thanks to the stylish direction by Guadagnino, as well as the twisty screenplay by David Kajganich (The Terror). Both manage to make viewers care deeply about Maren and Lee while thrusting them into increasingly dangerous situations.

The performances across the board are stellar too, particularly Russell’s star-making turn as a young woman trying to find herself amid unfamiliar, often scary new surroundings.

Plus, Rylance and Michael Stuhlbarg (Call Me By Your Name) leave a huge impression playing two of the creepier movie villains of recent memory.

With an 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Bones and All deserves a bigger audience than it had upon its release in 2022.

The film is airing on TV tonight/tomorrow morning on BBC Two at 12.05am.

It is also available to rent on Apple TV and Rakuten TV.

Here are the other movies on TV this evening:

Django Unchained – Film4 – 9pm

Quentin Tarantino’s rip-roaring Western epic about a slave named Django (Jamie Foxx) who finds himself accompanying an unorthodox German bounty hunter named Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) on a mission.

Deadpool 2 – E4 – 9pm

The ‘merc with a mouth’ returns.

Quantum of Solace – ITV4 – 9pm

Not the best of the Daniel Craig-led Bond films, but not the worst, either.

Criminal – Legend – 9pm

A forgotten 2016 sci-fi action flick with an oddly stacked cast, including Kevin Costner, Gal Gadot, Gary Oldman, Ryan Reynolds and Tommy Lee Jones.

For a Few Dollars More – TG4 – 9.15pm

Clint Eastwood returns as ‘The Man with No Name’ in this legendary Western sequel.

Lakeview Terrace – RTÉ2 – 10.50pm

In this crime thriller, Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington move into their lush new home, only to realise that their cop neighbour (Samuel L. Jackson) is angered by their relationship.

Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey – Sky Sci-Fi – 11pm

Another comedy sequel, except this time from the ’90s and starring Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves.

The House of the Devil – Legend Xtra – 11.05pm

This supremely creepy ’80s set horror about a college student (Jocelin Donahue) hired as a babysitter at an isolated house was the breakthrough film for writer-director Ti West, who helmed the recent slashers X, Pearl and MaXXXine.

1917 – RTÉ One – 11.15pm

Director Sam Mendes’ excellent WWI drama renowned for its ‘one shot’ conceit.

Crank 2: High Voltage – Legend – 11.15pm

An even crazier action flick than the original Crank, which is saying something.

The Craft: Legacy – E4 – 11.25pm

The 2020 reboot of the cult ’90s flick about teenage witches.

Under Siege 2: Dark Territory – Channel 4 – 11.40pm

Steven Seagal is a former Navy SEAL turned chef in this action sequel.

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