“Mother was hiding a witch book.”

1931 Oregon. Twins Lily (Julia Butters) and Sam (Jacob Tremblay) search for answers about their mother’s death and her connection to the supernatural while living on an isolated farm with their father (Martin Freeman).

With Queen of Bones, Robert Budreau delivers a folk tale that blends the search for family ties with supernatural stories.

Frightening Family Stories

We love these stories of parents with strange behaviors, don’t we? Here, it’s the father who seems to act in a dubious manner. But is he doing it to hide a dark secret that would get him into trouble, or rather to hide a dark secret to protect his late wife’s reputation? This is what Queen of Bones revolves around.

Robert Budreau manages to create a heavy atmosphere in which everyone seems unsettling. We get the impression that each of the characters could turn out to be a villain and that they want to harm Lily.

The twins will eventually embark on a kind of investigation to discover who their mother was and who their father truly is. From beginning to end, the director sows doubt in the minds of the viewers. Perhaps a little too much at times, as we come to think that everyone is probably evil and we stop trying to figure out if the father is good or bad.

But the scenes in the house, and in the basement particularly, are bathed in a magnificent gloom in which we see just enough to understand what is happening, but which is dark enough to be unsettling. And these scenes are numerous enough to dwell on them.

Not Very Original, But Enjoyable

I’ll say it upfront. The story is not particularly original. If you’re looking for a film that will blow you away with its originality or memorable techniques, you will be greatly disappointed. But if you’re looking for entertainment that will fill your evening well, then you will certainly be captivated.

The actors deliver a fine performance, especially Julia Butters as Lily and Martin Freeman as the unsettling paternal figure. The chemistry between the twins also works well, which is necessary in this kind of story.

Obviously, the film’s progression doesn’t leave many surprises for an experienced cinephile. But despite everything, the pleasure is there and the ending is satisfying.

A little more…

I have one last little thing to say about this film. Although I enjoyed it, it’s one of those films we quickly forget. Not necessarily bad, but not memorable. It happens.

But it will certainly appeal to those who like dark and unsettling films.

Trailer