Bone Hill deserves credit because it avoids the pitfalls and cliches of a typical possession movie. Instead of what we’re used to seeing in similar movies, the feature includes a young woman possessed and affected by an ancient Native American curse. While the film certainly has its flaws, at least it offers up a demon outside the realm of Christianity.
The movie stars Abby R Mooring as Laurie Coker. In the opening minutes, she attempts to kill herself atop of Bone Hill. The location’s source of evil is explained later in the movie, and it ties into the lore of the Native American curse. The feature does explain its lore quite well. Laurie, meanwhile, attempts to kill herself because she’s possessed.
The film’s other star is Jeremy Koch as Wade. He’s a doctor who insists on solving what exactly affects Laurie, but the closer he gets to her, the more endangered he becomes. Laure is still technically possessed, after all, and there are a few sequences where the demon shows its fangs, giving Laurie rather remarkable strength. The film is sometimes hampered by its budget during these scenes and could have benefited from stronger special effects to increase the scares beyond B movie territory.
Wade is assisted on this perilous journey by a co-worker, Jean (Penelope Alex). Some of the banter between Wade and Jean features some of the film’s best dialogue, and Alex gives an authentic performance in an otherwise outlandish movie. At the request of Wade, Jean looks into Laurie’s medical records and tests and realizes something just isn’t right with Laurie and science can’t quiet explain it.
As the film draws on, you get a sense of both the small town and some of the superstitions and lore beyond it, including the demon affecting Laurie. Though the film does have its flaws, including some of the acting and the budget, it does do a good job building both its setting and the demon. The legend of Bone Hill and how exactly the demon came to be is all fleshed out well, and it’s a credit to the script.
The acting at times, including by Mooring and Koch, is a bit clunky. This distracts from the broader narrative and makes it difficult to stay engaged. It’s at times difficult to buy into the performances that the leads are selling, especially for a movie with such a fantastical premise.
Overall, Bone Hill deserves credit for doing something fresh and original within the possession subgenre. The film also establishes its lore well, including the demon’s backstory. However, the movie is hamstrung by some poor acting and a limited budget that hampers its special effects.
