Creepiest part of Boneyard, aside from the title, is that there is a possibility the villain may just be walking around still now as we speak. So if you don’t know about the West Mesa murders, you need to brush up on it before you watch this formula cop thriller or not. It all started in 2009 when numerous skeletal remains were discovered sending shockwaves throughout Albequerque, New Mexico and across the country which quickly turned into a national story and investigation. Serial killers on sex trafficking rings were suspected; suspects were named, but as they say “investigation continues.”
Now I am not saying that the main players with Brian Van Holt playing opposite Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Nora Zehetner and Mel Gibson in Boneyard are not trying their best to solve this case. Just like every other real-life case so far their new movie is disappointing – Asif Akbar-directed (Skeletons in the Closet) film by Hank Byrd’s script with Vincent E. McDaniel and Koji Steven Sakai.
The records obtained show that between 2001 and 2005, 11 women whose bodies are discovered in Boneyard had been buried although it was not until four years later that a lady walking her dog happened upon a human bone sticking out of the ground at Albuquerque’s West Mesa District. That’s how Akbar’s flick starts – so much suspense there. Terrifying find during hot sweaty day under glaring desert sky tells us one thing: evil does not only appear at night anymore as it seems to be everywhere today.
Shame though for everything else about this movie could not match up to this beginning scene. Similarly, First Cow by Kelly Reichardt began with some woman (Alia Shawkat) stumbling upon two skeletons quite by chance but ended up being more mellow than anything else in tone.” The problem with Boneyard is that even though it had a decidedly flat tone throughout, it lacked the emotional characters, beautiful cinematography, deep themes and nuanced performances that First Cow had.
Now this is not to say there was no effort on the part of the lead actors in Boneyard. There’s Detective Young working alone surrounded by a lot of male energy. Played by the amazing but underrated Nora Zehetner who looks like she has not aged since her stellar performance as Laura Dodeka in Rian Johnson’s neo-noir masterpiece Brick nearly two decades ago. Zehetner deserves more than thin character from Boneyard but we love her all through, especially when she faces resistance within her unit maybe because she is female.
Over the years, 50 Cent has had his moments, but it doesn’t seem right here to have a rather stiff head of detectives like Ortega (Brian Van Holt). We have seen 50 Cent in comedy, grit, and more, but being put as a person in control here limits the performer. Never once will you be convinced that he is at the helm. Unfortunately same poor casting goes for Van Holt, who too far leans into his gruff voice and simmering anger. Always appears to be flexing or straining to make a bowel movement. This is limiting for an otherwise charming and good looking actor who always brings life to screens big and small whenever he appears.
The director confirmed that actual law enforcement agents were brought in to consult on this picture; we see them working day and night on what looks like a hopeless case. Boneyard ultimately weaves in the real-life tale of a multi-agency effort to identify and apprehend the killer. The expected clash of professionals and methods ensues, especially when a certain veteran agent flies onto the scene.
Some of cinema’s most tense or even gloomy thrillers have been highlighted by peculiar yet gifted detectives. In Fargo Frances McDormand played such role .In Red State John Goodman played one.In The Long Goodbye Elliott Gould was also among others.In Boneyard Mel Gibson has grown a thick beard through which he now speaks with an American accent that is full of sarcasm.People are instantly attracted by his tragic past involving her dead daughter that motivates him search for criminals similar injustice events as those found in West Mesa.
Since Lethal Weapon 5 will no doubt be bigger than Boneyard, Gibson has kept people abreast on its progress however it does remind us how great an odd cop he can play sometimes. Nevertheless this latest project has little humor coming from him, without which Boneyard loses its pulse even though there are little twists and turns as the story goes on suggesting that the heinous acts are part of an inside job.
The third act has another “big twist”, but it doesn’t really feel like that because the whole thing gets muddled down by a flat, formulaic tone and a script that seems to be going through the motions. In our recent interview with Van Holt, he stressed how he hopes this narrative will have a positive influence on the real-life investigation. It will hopefully bring light back to this ongoing tragedy, if not perhaps one better left for documentary filmmakers until at last justice is done.
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