Review: Executive Produced by Ari Aster, chilling short film ‘THE BONES’ is unlike anything you’ve witnessed before.
THE BONES
Directed by Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña (The Wolf House) and executive produced by Ari Aster (Midsommar), The Bones (Venice ’21) is a fictitious account of the world’s first stop-motion animated film. Dated 1901 and excavated in 2021 as Chile drafts a new Constitution, the footage documents a ritual performed by a girl who appears to use human corpses. Emerging in the ritual are Diego Portales and Jaime Guzmán, central figures in the construction of authoritarian and oligarchic Chile.
Is there such a thing as playful morbidity? In just under 13 minutes, the short film THE BONES captivates audiences with one-of-a-kind images. I found myself transfixed by the black & white stop motion animation. I was thankful for the brief plot summary, as I am unfamiliar with Chile’s political history. I’m not sure if understanding the context of these real-life figures makes it more or less ghoulish. THE BONES is equal parts bewitching and disturbing. Composer Tim Fain crafts a haunting score. It is easy to see how Chilean filmmakers Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña attracted the eye of executive producer Ari Aster. This short feels akin to a children’s bedtime story in Aster’s cinematic realm. You will not be able to look away from THE BONES. It is pure macabre art.
THE BONES is now streaming exclusively on MUBI
explore: Ari Aster | Cristóbal León | Joaquín Cociña | MUBI | short film | THE BONES