Halloween season is in full swing, which means some of the biggest streaming services are reshuffling their libraries. Prime Video has not only added a bunch of horror movies this month, but its trending list is also starting to change with the season. That includes the horror-thriller “Queen of Bones,” which has crept into the top 10.
As a huge horror fan, I try my best to stay updated with new releases, yet surprisingly, I’d never come across “Queen of Bones” before. Its journey to landing on a streaming service has been somewhat long. Directed by Robert Budreau and starring Martin Freeman, the movie first premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival in 2023 before being acquired by Falling Forward Films in January 2024. It was later released in the U.S. through Vertical Entertainment on video on demand (VOD).
The rocky road to streaming and its very limited release meant the movie got lost in the entertainment shuffle. Now, with “Queen of Bones” sitting at No. 6 in Prime Video’s top 10, there’s a chance it will finally find its audience. Time will tell if it can surpass “Casino Royale” and “Diablo” in popularity.
If you’ve seen “Queen of Bones” climbing the charts and need something to watch for Halloween, here’s everything to know about this horror-thriller and whether it’s worth adding to your Prime Video watchlist.
What is ‘Queen of Bones’ about?
In 1931 rural Oregon, twins Lily (Julia Butters) and Sam (Jacob Tremblay) live on a remote homestead with their widowed father Malcolm (Martin Freeman), a violin maker. Their mother died in childbirth, and Malcolm has become increasingly strict and secretive.
When Lily and Sam discover an old Icelandic spell book hidden in their cellar, odd clues begin to surface: strange symbols, whispers, and hints that their father and his friend Ida May (Taylor Schilling) may be hiding something much darker than grief.
Lily, especially, senses a connection between the spell book’s lore, her mother’s death, and forces stirring in the woods around them. As the siblings press Malcolm and Ida May for answers, they venture into the forest, into increasingly unsettling territory. Each discovery forces them to question everything they thought they knew about their mother.
Should you stream ‘Queen of Bones’ on Prime Video?
If you're in the mood for a slow-burn dark thriller with a haunting atmosphere, “Queen of Bones" on Prime Video could be your next watch. With a strong cast featuring Julia Butters, Jacob Tremblay, and Martin Freeman, the movie seems to offer a moody, experience reminiscent of “The Witch” that focuses heavily on its characters.
Part family drama, part horror, and part mystery thriller, the story clearly draws you in with the discovery of an ancient book and two protagonists determined to uncover dark family secrets.
“Queen of Bones” sounds like the ideal movie to watch during the spooky season, and as a fan of folk horror, I can practically feel the haunting dread soaking from the trailer. Plus, even from the premise and trailer alone, this feels like something straight out of the Robert Eggers playbook. There might even be some inspiration there, which is never a bad thing.
Budreau hasn’t made many other projects aside from major flicks like “Born to Be Blue” and “Stockholm,” both of which are wildly different from horror but were critically acclaimed. It’ll be interesting to see how his style translates to a slow-burn, atmospheric horror-thriller.
“Queen of Bones” doesn’t have a Rotten Tomatoes score yet, but three out of four reviews on the site are negative, which might not sound appealing. Still, this feels like the kind of movie where setting the right expectations could leave you pleasantly surprised.
Christina Brennan from Loud and Clear Reviews said: “Queen of Bones is still a decidedly mixed bag, with early moments of poignancy undermined by a stilted script and overambitious plot.” Meanwhile, Variety’s Dennis Harvey stated “without much in the way of psychological depth, or potency to its fantastical elements, Queen of Bones makes a pretty tepid overall impression, given the expectations raised by its basic themes.”
Simon Foster from Screen-Space found it to be an engaging watch: “Authentically staged and bolstered by a simmering supernatural undercurrent, Queen of Bones is well-served by its leading lady and a grasp of sepia-tinged atmospherics, both of which patch over some thinly-plotted moments.”
Taken together, the reviews paint a picture of a movie that’s a bit uneven but not without its charms. While some critics point to pacing issues or a lack of depth, others highlight its strong performances, moody visuals, and subtle supernatural tension. For viewers who enjoy stylistic folk horror and don’t mind a slower pace, “Queen of Bones” could still be a compelling watch on Halloween despite its flaws.
Stream "Queen of Bones" on Prime Video now.
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