Timothée Chalamet has made no secret of his desire “to be one of the greats,” and for me, to achieve such a status requires a commitment to risk-taking. And to his credit, Chalamet certainly isn’t afraid of taking on unconventional roles. 2022’s “Bones and All” is clear proof of that fact.
This unsettling dark thriller comes from “Challengers” director Luca Guadagnino and centers on two teens with a very particular hunger: They crave human flesh. And find themselves fighting their uncontrollable urges, while falling in love, as they journey across America. It’s certainly not a crowd-pleaser, but if you have the stomach for it, it’s a deliciously warped meal. And Chalamet gives one of his most multi-layered performances.
“Bones and All” makes its return to Prime Video this month (it was previously on the service before being removed in January), and I’m delighted to have an excuse to recommend it all over again. It’s a twisted tale that has burned into my memory, and every time it resurfaces on one of the best streaming services, I get my own strong urge to rewatch it all over again.
I'm a Senior Entertainment Editor at Tom's Guide with a love of thrillers, horror and any movie with a dark twist. But I also have a soft spot for a good rom-com on occasion. My favorite Timothée Chalamet movie is a close-run race between "Dune: Part Two," "Beautiful Boy," "Little Women," and "Wonka."
What is ‘Bones and All’ about?
Maren (Taylor Russell) has struggled with a sinister appetite for human flesh since childhood. On her 18th birthday, her father abandons her, unable to handle her horrific desire any longer. So, Maren embarks on a cross-country road trip to locate her absentee mother for answers.
On the road, she meets Lee ( Timothée Chalamet), a drifter with the same dark affliction, who joins her on the journey. As they grow closer, they begin an intense relationship that gives them something to live for beyond finding their next murderous meal. Wrapped in guilt as the pair struggles to control their need to feed, they ponder trying to live a “normal life” instead.
Intertwined is an older man named Sully (Mark Rylance) who develops a dangerous obsession with Maren, and eventually all path leads to a dramatic showdown.
‘Bones and All’ is a dark thriller with real bite
“Bones and All” is an intoxicating mixture of genres. While its dark thriller credentials are undeniable, the movie is also garnished with romance, drama, horror and even some very black comedy. It could have been an unwieldy mess of too many ideas at once, but Guadagnino and screenwriter David Kajganich (who adapts from Camille DeAngelis’ novel of the same name) bring all these elements together into a supremely satisfying whole.
It should go without saying, given the cannibalistic subject matter, that “Bones and All” won’t be for everybody. Maren and Lee are the “heroes” of the piece, but they’re still lost teenagers who literally feed on people. Perhaps the biggest achievement is that despite their hunger for human flesh, they’re still compelling protagonists that you will sympathize with. And on the other side of the fence, Mark Rylanance makes for a very eerie villain.
Every time I watch “Bones and All,” what stands out to me most is the performances. Taylor Russell is an exceptional lead, portraying Maren’s inner conflict in a way that never veers into melodrama. Chalamet is every bit as excellent. Lee struggles not just with his sinister appetite but also with a need to protect his younger sister. It’s a complex role, and Chalamet really digs into the meat of the character. Not sure about the pink curls, though.
If you can stomach the blood, guts, and entrails on display, “Bones and All” is shouldn't be dismissed as a cheap stocker. Its subject matter might invoke comparison to snuff films, but it’s so much more interesting than that. Its society allegory is unsubtle, but effective, and the romance at the heart of the story is genuinely quite touching. It’s an undeniably original movie, and those are in too short a supply these days, so I’m very happy to champion it.
Stream ‘Bones and All’ on Prime Video now
Certainly one of Timothée Chalamet’s most overlooked movies, “Bones and All” is a feast. Narratively unique, tightly constructed by an excellent filmmaker, and always engaging thanks to strong performances from its three key cast members, it’s as repulsive as it is riveting. And while it underwhelmed at the box office — not a great surprise considering “teen cannibal romance” is a tough sell — in the years since its initial theatrical release in the winter of 2022, it’s developed a much-deserved cult following.
Its return to Prime Video over the Halloween weekend is well-timed, even if it’s certainly not a conventional horror-thriller movie. I hope this comeback allows it to pick up even more fans. Few movies of the last half-decade have managed to tell such a twisted tale with so much stark humanity. It would be easy to dismiss it based on its core premise, but you really shouldn’t.
“Bones and All” is far from the only new addition to Prime Video’s movie library. The streamer always drops a large collection of library titles at the start of each month, and November is proving no exception. Check out our complete guide to everything new on Prime Video in November 2025 for a full roundup of what’s just arrived on the Amazon-owned platform.
Watch "Bones and All" on Prime Video now
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