Ah, Bone Face—a film that dares to ask, “What if we took the classic summer camp slasher, added a dash of whodunit, and stirred it all together with a ladle of indie ambition?” Directed by Michael Donovan Horn, this 2025 horror-thriller attempts to carve out its own niche in the overcrowded cemetery of slasher cinema. Whether it succeeds or not is a matter of perspective—or perhaps, tolerance.
The plot is as familiar as a campfire ghost story: a masked killer begins offing camp counselors in a small town, prompting Sheriff Vince Cronin and Deputy Jo McCully to play detective in a game where the stakes are as high as the body count. It’s a setup that promises tension, suspense, and a fair amount of bloodshed. Unfortunately, Bone Face delivers these elements with the enthusiasm of a camp cook serving up reheated beans.
The performances are serviceable, if unremarkable. The actors portray their archetypal roles—the jock, the flirt, the nerd—with a level of commitment that suggests they were promised s’mores upon completion. Sheriff Cronin, played with stoic determination, seems perpetually one step behind the killer, while Deputy McCully provides the requisite skepticism and occasional moments of insight. The counselors, meanwhile, are little more than fodder for the killer’s antics, their personalities as thin as the paper plates at a picnic.
Visually, the film oscillates between atmospheric and amateurish. The wooded setting provides a suitably eerie backdrop, but the cinematography often feels more “home video” than “feature film.” The special effects are commendable in their practicality, with the gore rendered in a manner that’s more suggestive than explicit—a choice that may disappoint those seeking a more visceral experience.
The script attempts to inject a sense of mystery into the proceedings, presenting a lineup of potential suspects that would make Agatha Christie nod in approval. However, the dialogue is often clunky, laden with exposition, and the characters’ decisions range from baffling to downright nonsensical. The film’s pacing suffers as a result, with moments of tension undercut by stretches of tedium.
And then there’s the titular antagonist, Bone Face—a masked figure whose design is more “Halloween store clearance” than “iconic horror villain.” The film attempts to build a mythology around the character, hinting at a tragic backstory and a motive rooted in vengeance. Yet, these elements are only superficially explored, leaving the killer as little more than a faceless embodiment of menace.
In the end, Bone Face is a film that wears its influences on its blood-stained sleeve, yet fails to transcend them. It’s a competent addition to the slasher genre, but one that treads well-worn paths without offering much that’s new or innovative. For die-hard fans of camp-based carnage, it may provide a fleeting thrill. For others, it might serve as a reminder that some stories are best left around the campfire.
Rating: 2.5 monocles out of 5
For its earnest effort and occasional moments of suspense, though ultimately falling short of leaving a lasting impression.