The Bonesetter (2003)

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

This "MOVIE" adds nothing to the genre, looks horrible,is bland, slow and boring. It's not scary at all. The acting is terrible. The "effects" and makeup are blah. I give any filmmaker credit for doing the work and getting their stuff out for people to see. I've never made a movie but damn, man this is really no good. Don't waist any time or money on this. I wish my review was more enlightening and in-depth but I don't have much to work with here.I think I got this from a Brentwood collection for like a couple of bucks, and I'm still angry that I spent money on it. I am even struggling to write more about the movie. I am at a loss.

The first thing I have to get off my chest is the fact that this is one the Splatter Rampage part of Tempe Video. Usually, the category should involve savage blood spilling. Midnight Skater went overboard, Mulva and Filthy McNasty yes yes, but this has to be the most bloodless of the pile seeing that maybe it's a 1 out of 10 on the gore-o-meter.A very ambitious project with a few flaws. I'll get to that in a bit.The Bonesetter, a century old practitioner of bones. You needed adjustment or a set back, then the Bonesetter was the man until a bad rap began his illustrious career of slaughtering the weak. Now in present time, he has somehow found his way back to the land of the living to find what he was set out to do before his untimely death. Kill, kill, kill. Children become missing and for some strange reason, the evidence points to the Bonesetter's patterns which are being studied out by the local book worm who gets pushed around. Which in turn meets a woman who had her child kidnapped who happened to be looking for the book on him the legend also. Small world isn't it? The 2 hook up, smash ideas of each other and make things happen. More children go missing and the closer they get, the deadlier the game becomes. A cat and mouse if you will. The deeper the story gets, the more action takes place. Reminds me of a C.S.I. Episode other than a straight out horror flick. Not to dis, just a mere opinion on the story and style. It has it's potential but doesn't quite deliver the full punch. The kills don't live up to the Splatter Rampage credential, a sheer miss of interpretation.All in all, still not a bad feature but if brought to a 45 minute short than probably a hell of a wallop this would give.

Usually when a movie receives a vote of one it is because someone simply dislikes it and is annoyed it doesn't have a lower rating, and so decides to drag it down as much as they can instead of just giving it a low rating. This is not the case here.Bonesetter is a perfect example of a 0/10 film. It does nothing right and it doesn't have the chance to because it doesn't really attempt to do anything. There are strands of a bad D&D novel kind of plot which doesn't hold together and a complete lack of any kind of acting throughout. It is clear that nobody involved in this project gave it any kind of serious effort, because even a completely patently untalented persons' hard work would amount to more. A truly awful film.

After getting the chance to see Brett's first film, THE FERAL MAN, I was so excited when I got my hands on THE BONESETTER. Oh man...THE BONESETTER has a great story, the acting is awesome and the killer is top-notch.Even though Brett directed this film, he is definitely a great actor and I am really looking forward to seeing more films that he has been in. I am wondering if this guy can do no wrong! Does this one have any gore in it? Well, I would have to say that it does have some, especially that of a character that gets his heart ripped out. Wait a minute! Is that the only gore scene? Well, even if it was one gore scene, it was a great scene! OK, now let's talk about this Bonesetter guy. I was wondering if you would ever get to see what this guy looked like and it was almost to the end when you find out and let me tell you, that is one of the creepiest guys that I have ever seen in an independent film. I definitely wouldn't want to cross paths with him.The one thing that I enjoyed so much was seeing Lloyd Kaufman play the mayor. Come on now...when is it when you can see a mayor being talking on TV and you see the poster for CITIZEN TOXIE in the background? That was great and I absolutely love Lloyd! All in all, THE BONESETTER has a kick ass plot, a creepy villain, good effects and some really good acting. I highly recommend this flick! *THE BONESETTER is now included in a 2-DVD set from Brentwood entitled DEAD & ROTTING. Check it out!!!