Reviewed by Melissa Antoinette Garza
Sometimes movies are just plain old-fashioned fun and they don’t need to be anything more than that. This is exactly what the filmmakers had when creating the Indiegogo funded THE BONE GARDEN (2014).
At its core it’s a whodunit slasher, but by utilizing familiar faces from old school horror movies and recognizable character names, it stands out as both its own story and also pays homage to other famous films.
We follow Alice (Tracie Savage) who lives in an upper-class home with her husband Norman (Paul Kratka). Their marriage is on the rocks as Norman is going out all hours of the night and Alice is certain he’s cheating. In the beginning, she wants to save her marriage but with encouragement from her best friend Laurie (Tammy Kaitz) and a new romance blooming, she changes her mind.
Soon, Alice has a new neighbor. One night she sees him carrying a bag outside. Shortly thereafter, people begin to go missing. She talks to the police but despite the investigation no arrests are made.
One of the major highlights of the movie is that Officer Ned Taylor is portrayed by George Stover. Stover is one of my favorite actors and he always adds a lot to each role. Here he’s a bumbling cop and he brings some fun comedy relief to the film. He was a huge player in Don Dohler’s cult classics. Whether discussing THE GALAXY INVADER (1985), NIGHTBEAST (1982), my personal favorite BLOOD MASSACRE (1991) or any of Dohler’s other great films, one cannot do so without referencing George Stover’s great performance in each.
After Dohler’s untimely death, Stover really branched out into a lot of other movies and has brought the same level of dedication and brilliance to each role he’s in.
It was also really cool to see Savage and Kratka who both starred in FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3, back on screen together. They both do fantastic and whether you love or hate the characters, the acting is stellar.
The same is true for Kaitz. She portrayed a tough as nails, fun loving, partying gal who watches out for her best friend no matter what. There were some conversations and reactions between Laurie and Alice that reminded me of things my best friend and I would say to each other.
Overall, I can’t recommend this movie enough. It was well-done and had a great pace. Though the ending leaves many questions unanswered, it’s certainly a first. Horror fans will get a kick out of the many ‘spot me’ references and more than a few that are ‘in your face’ but still done really well.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7/10
