Marrowbone (film)

Marrowbone (Spanish: El secreto de Marrowbone, lit. 'The Secret of Marrowbone') is a 2017 Spanish psychological horror mystery drama film written and directed by Sergio G. Sánchez, and starring George MacKay, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, Mia Goth, and Matthew Stagg. The film tells the story of the titular Marrowbone siblings (MacKay, Heaton, Goth, and Stagg), who relocate from England to their mother's ancestral estate in Maine, where they are faced by a sinister presence in the home. Marrowbone was screened in the Special Presentations section at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and released in Spain on 27 October 2017, by Universal Pictures.

Marrowbone
Film poster
Directed bySergio G. Sánchez
Produced by
  • Belén Atienza
  • Álvaro Augustín
  • Ghislain Barrois
Written bySergio G. Sánchez
Starring
Music byFernando Velázquez
CinematographyXavi Giménez
Edited byElena Ruiz
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • 11 September 2017 (2017-09-11) (TIFF)
  • 27 October 2017 (2017-10-27) (Spain)
Running time
110 minutes
CountrySpain
LanguageEnglish
Budget€8 million
(est. $9.9 million)
Box office$12.2 million[1]

Plot

In 1968, a woman named Rose brings her four children from England to her childhood home, the Marrowbone Residence, in rural Maine. She urges them to leave their past behind and make new memories. Things start off well, and they make friends with a girl named Allie. However, Rose's health worsens and she dies, leaving behind her children Jack (20), Jane (19), Billy (18) and Sam (5). Before dying, Rose instructs Jack to hide news of her death until he turns 21 and legally able to care for his siblings. Six months later, the person the family was running from finds the place.

Another six months later, the siblings still live in the house. All the mirrors are hidden or covered to protect them from a "ghost" in the loft, which has apparently been gone for several months. Of all the siblings, only Jack visits the local town to take care of any necessities. He courts Allie, now a library employee, while keeping his past from her. The town lawyer, Tom Porter, is in charge of the Marrowbone estate, and has unrequited affections for Allie.

Tom informs Jack he will come to collect the $200 fee and Rose's signature to finish the paperwork that transfer ownership of the estate to Jack. Desperate for money, Jack uses the "cursed" money of their father. Billy retrieves the money box at a secluded spot on the beach. Jack gives $200 to Tom, and Jane fakes Rose's signature on the papers, concluding the transfer.

After several incidents, the siblings believe the "ghost" is back because they used the money. Billy "returns the money" by climbing on the roof and throwing the box with the rest of the money down the chimney into the attic. Sam sneaks into Rose's old room, where all the mirrors are kept, sees the "ghost" inside a mirror, and is traumatized. At this point, it is heavily implied that the "ghost" was their abusive father, who was bricked up in the attic and starved to death. Jane suggests properly burying him, but Jack dismisses the idea.

After Allie firmly rejects Tom's advances, he gives her a folder containing the investigation on the Marrowbone siblings. The files inside revealed their father, Simon Fairbairn, to be a notorious criminal. He was convicted in court, with Jack a key witness, and later broke out of jail. In the house, Jane saw a raccoon being attacked and dragged into the attic and is convinced that Simon is still alive.

Tom was informed his potential employer is no longer interested in an employee, but a partner. He is offered 10% of their share for $5,000, which he doesn't have. Tom believes that the Marrowbone siblings have £10,000, which was listed as missing from Simon Fairbairn's property, and blackmails Jack. Billy climbs down the attic to retrieve the box, and barely escapes Simon's assault. Billy confronts Jack about Simon and urges Jack to deal with him together. Their argument is interrupted when Jack faints and has a seizure. Jane decides they must tell Allie the truth.

The siblings send Allie their diary. While Allie reads through it, Tom arrives at the house. Seeing the bricked up attic entrance, he is convinced the money is hidden there and tears down the wall.

The diary reveals when Simon found the house six months ago, Jack locked his siblings inside the attic. He tried to give the money box back to Simon at the secluded place on the beach, but is knocked out by the vengeful father. When Jack regained consciousness, he returned to the house, only to realize Simon had entered the attic through the chimney and killed his siblings. After bricking up the attic, Jack prepared to commit suicide, but hallucinated his siblings into existence. Mimicking his mother, Jack begins to "make new memories." He hides all the mirrors to avoid reminding himself that he is alone, and avoids going into the attic for the same reason. The siblings eventually become alternate personalities within his mind.

After learning the truth, Allie goes to the Marrowbone house and finds Jack's different personalities arguing with each other. She tries to snap him out of it, but he drives her away, unwilling to accept the deaths of his siblings. Noticing Tom's belongings, Allie goes up the attic and finds Jane, Billy and Sam's desiccated corpses, as well as a dying Tom. She confronts a horribly malnourished but still ferocious Simon, while calling out for Jack's alternate personalities for help. Eventually, Billy takes over and kills Simon.

Some time later, Allie is shown living in the Marrowbone house with Jack and all of his siblings' personalities.

Cast

Production

In May 2016, it was announced Sergio G. Sánchez would write and direct the film, with J. A. Bayona executive producing, alongside Belen Atienza producing.[2][3] In July 2016, Anya Taylor-Joy, Mia Goth, George MacKay and Charlie Heaton joined the cast of the film.[4]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 11 September 2017.[5][6] It was released in Spain on 27 October 2017, by Universal Pictures.[7] Marrowbone was also released theatrically in the U.K. on 13 July 2018.[8] It was released digitally on 18 November.[9]

Critical reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 48% based on 73 reviews, and an average rating of 5.30/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Marrowbone's effective setting and strong cast can't make up for thinly conceived characters and a story short on genuine scares."[10] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 63 out of 100, based on 5 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[11]

References
  1. "Marrowbone". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  2. Fleming, Mike Jr. (10 May 2016). "'Now You See Me 3', 'Patriots Day', 'No Exit' & 'American Assassin' Round Out Lionsgate Slate – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  3. Hopewell, John; De Pablos, Emiliano (10 May 2016). "Cannes: Lionsgate Intl. Rolls Out 'Marrowbone' Across the World (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  4. Hipes, Patrick (8 July 2016). "'Morgan' Star Anya Taylor-Joy Joins Thriller 'Marrowbone'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  5. Pond, Steve (15 August 2017). "Aaron Sorkin, Brie Larson, Louis CK Movies Added to Toronto Film Festival Lineup". TheWrap. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  6. "Marrowbone". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  7. Marchman McNeely, Kellie (20 April 2017). "From Executive Producer J.A. Bayona Comes MARROWBONE". Horror Fuel. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  8. "The Secret of Marrowbone" – via www.filmdates.co.uk.
  9. ""THE SECRET OF MARROWBONE" is out to own on DVD and Download this November". Filmoria.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  10. "Marrowbone (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  11. "Marrowbone Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
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