Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence, blood, wild twist in smart, tense Western.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Place of Bones
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In PLACE OF BONES, Pandora Meadows (Heather Graham) and her teen daughter, Hester (Brielle Robillard), live on a remote ranch, miles from the nearest town. It's a place they built with their own hands, and it's where Pandora's late husband lies. One day, Hester discovers an intruder, a wounded bank robber named Calhoun (Corin Nemec) who has a saddlebag full of money. The women take him in and tend to his wounds, although a blast through his leg has shattered the bone. When gangrene sets in, Pandora is forced to remove the leg at the knee. Later, she learns that Calhoun actually killed the other members of his own gang to take the money for himself—and that a villainous bunch led by the vicious Bear John (Tom Hopper) is looking for him. Worse, they have a tracker who can find anyone, no matter how well-hidden.
Is It Any Good?
This smart, sparse, tense Western takes a fairly old story and makes it fresh again with playful dialogue, secrets hidden and revealed, and a surprisingly horrific undercurrent. Directed by Audrey Cummings, Place of Bones joins the still very short list of Westerns directed by women, and while it doesn't quite reach the artistry of Meek's Cutoff or The Power of the Dog, it's a worthy addition. Right away, there are conflicts at work. While Pandora and Hester are nowhere near civilization, the mother keeps insisting that the daughter use correct English ("don't say anything," rather than "don't say nothing"). And while Pandora is stubbornly pious, she seems to know an awful lot about guns and gunshot wounds. Even the minimal ranch house, mostly dusty brown, is perked up by a gloriously colorful Tiffany window.
Pandora's mysterious past (and her name itself, which of course references the box that you should never open) is juxtaposed with Calhoun's ever-evolving web of lies and deception. Admittedly, the standoff-at-the-lone-ranch-house plot has been done many times, but where Place of Bones departs from other Westerns is in its shocker of an added layer, which isn't for the squeamish. Suffice it to say that when Pandora promises "the Lord will provide," it translates into "be careful what you wish for."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Place of Bones' violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
What does the movie have to say about greed? Is there a good side to greed? Why, or why not?
Does the movie talk about faith in a respectful way, or does it have too dark of a "punchline"? Why?
How do Pandora and Hester show empathy? How far does their empathy go?
Were you surprised by the ultimate reveal about Pandora and Hester? How did it make you feel about them?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 23, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : August 23, 2024
- Cast : Heather Graham , Brielle Robillard , Tom Hopper
- Director : Audrey Cummings
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : The Avenue
- Genre : Western
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence and some language including a sexual reference
- Last updated : August 31, 2024
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