Ash And Bone

However, Ash And Bone still works because of the aforementioned characterization of Cassie and those around her, as well as the strong, eerie direction Wallen provides. Alex Gasparetto’s cinematography is superb, making the tense household just as unsettling as the dark woods through outstanding lighting and shadow play. The pacing is also excellent, with no scene overstaying its welcome.

Helping matters nicely is the cast. Cama captures the rebellious spirit of the lead perfectly while selling the terrifying moments well. Harley Wallen is both sweet and maddening, cementing the family issues at hand. Kaiti Wallen is unbelievably fantastic as the level-headed, well-meaning stepmom. These three actors share amazing chemistry, making them feel like a broken family.

“…outstanding lighting and shadow play.”

Bernadette and Heidger play off each other perfectly and come across as old buddies. Doom and Hoveland are frightening and disgusting, making for some fun villains to root against. Shane Hagedorn plays the sheriff and is a lot of smarmy fun.

The other compelling aspect of Ash And Bone is its family theme. Cassie, Lucas, and Sarah do not always see eye to eye or even try to understand each other for a time. But does that mean there is no love between them? Without giving anything away, the ending provides that answer most satisfyingly. May, Clete, and their cousin, also have an interesting dynamic, especially as the situation brings forth longheld contempt and resentment. But again, those aren’t entirely explored enough, but they are present.

Ash And Bone has a plotline that has been done before. But the creepy direction and cinematography make this horror offering scary. The cast exceptionally brings to life the well-rounded characters, and they are what makes the film so engaging.