Marrowbone is another drama being mismarketed as a horror movie. While I would agree that Marrowbone has some thriller elements, I felt that fear in the horror sense as much as horror felt through dread. Aside from the disappointment upon the realization that the trailers mislead me, Marrowbone is is a very solid film. All of the acting is great (although George MacKay doesn't really portray pain very authentically), the set is both beautiful and haunting, the camera work makes some memorable scenes, and the story is compelling. The Spanish title is The Secret of Marrowbone, which is a much better title. While I wasn't satisfied with the ending they chose and I still have unaddressed plot holes that still bother me, Marrowbone drew me in and I was pleased with the journey.

**A good psychological horror movie.**

For me, the only good thing about Halloween is the amount of horror movies on television. The Anglo-Saxon reader, don't get me wrong, I know it's a tradition very dear to the Americans and the British, and I respect that, in the same way I respect Dia de Los Muertos. But in my country, this tradition is non-existent. I only started hearing about it fifteen years ago, due to an irresistible alliance between commerce (always interested in selling trinkets and masks left over from Carnival) and the weight of globalization, which turns cultural variety into a homogeneous, tasteless soup. What we have in my country is just the Catholic celebration of All Saints and, the next day, the religious feast of the deceased, with the traditional pilgrimage to the cemeteries. For those who are not Christian or have no one dear in the cemetery, maybe these are days like any other. But let's get down to business!

As you can see, I saw this movie for Halloween, and I really liked what I saw. Despite the presence of Sérgio Sánchez, who signs the script and guarantees impeccable direction, and despite having been filmed and produced in Spain, the film features English-speaking actors and the entire story takes place in the United States. The script begins with the arrival of a mother, with her children, to her family home, which has been closed for a long time. It's clear from the start that they are on the run and hiding from an abusive husband/father left in Europe. Everything goes well until the mother's death, who leaves the children in the care of the eldest. From then on, they try to hide her death until he turns 21, the age from which he will be entitled to be the brothers' legal guardian, thus ensuring that they all remain together.

There's so much more to the script, it's not just a family melodrama about close-knit brothers and the dangers of an abusive father. Terror is very present in the remains of that decrepit house, where something else is present, and a dark secret hidden somewhere on the upper floor, totally inaccessible. The young orphans' relationship with Allie, their closest neighbor, and with a lawyer from the nearby town, will be the impetus for new developments, which will lead us to know more about the young people, and what really exists in that isolated house. The film is full of twists, and some of them surprised me a little.

George MacKay is the great protagonist of the film and gives us a truly superb, deep and sometimes disturbing interpretation. Despite the quality of the cast, in general, being good, he stands out from the others and steals our attention whenever he appears. Charlie Heaton is another good addition, and especially shines in the scenes where he plays with MacKay, in particular in his various conflicts. Tom Fisher is quite effective as a villain, even though he is not happy with his character, stripped of any depth and turned into a mad beast, a closet monster determined to eat little children. Anya Taylor-Joy was a nice and effective addition, but it has very little to do.

Technically, the film relies heavily on cinematography, filming locations, sound effects and set design. The cinematography takes advantage of the cold colors and misty days, as well as the dim light from the interiors of the house, and from the lit candles, to help create a tense and suitably somber atmosphere, which is thickened by the sound effects, very well used, and by the scenery of the country house, aged and in need of works. The house is transformed, as in other scary house movies, into an additional character in the plot, with its own personality and its own history and quirks. The choice of costumes and cars puts us in tune with the time when everything happens (the 50s). However, it lacks an effective and truly memorable soundtrack.

_"Down on your marrowbones and pray!"_

A pretty good collection of up-and-comers with a solid enough premise told relatively efficiently, featuring a mix of hardline-by-the-numbers horror and only-mostly-cliche horror, but it lacks that next step to take it over the line into being actually good.

_Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._

With social media constantly bombarding us with instantaneous updates about the everyday occurrences of everyone's lives, it is extremely difficult to stay spoiler-free from any form of entertainment.  Still, I do my best to steer clear of anything that may ruin a movie for me before I ever get a chance to see it for myself.  Hell, sometimes I don't even read the synopsis plastered on the back of a home release's artwork/case because I just want to go into a film as blindly as possible.  That is exactly what I've done here with Sergio G. Sanchez's thriller, Marrowbone.
Rose Fairbairn (Nicola Harrison) and her four children have started a new chapter in their lives, hiding away from their violent past.  After Rose falls ill, eldest son, Jack (George MacKay, Captain Fantastic), must do everything in his power to keep the family together and away from any more pain.  This becomes increasingly difficult as outside forces begin to take a toll on the entire family, in the form of a lawyer who won't give up and a haunting figure within the home itself.
I love my horror films full of gore and a high body count, but there is something quite refreshing about watching a film with neither of those things that can still deliver some intense feelings of suspense and dread.  Marrowbone does just that;  It is a film full of twists and turns that even the most keen movie buff will be surprised by.
While I wouldn't say the cast is a star-studded one, there are enough familiar faces here to get fans excited before the opening credits even begin.  Anya Taylor-Joy (The VVitch, Split), Charlie Heaton ("Stranger Things), and George MacKay ("11.22.63") are just some of the talented performers you will see throughout the film's 110 minute runtime.  I was incredibly impressed with every single actor involved in this film, which really played a huge role in keeping my attention during some of the slower parts of Marrowbone. The family dynamic between all members of the Marrowbone siblings is endearing and I loved watching each of their unique personalities bring something different to their extraordinary situation.
Marrowbone is a thriller with some supernatural elements very early on.  It is a ghost story; it is a psychological thriller; most importantly, it is a great film. 
I am unfamiliar with writer and director, Sergio G. Sanchez, but I will certainly be on the lookout for any future projects he may be involved with.  Marrowbone is a film that everyone should be talking about, yet I see no discussions or rumblings about it online.  It is a shame really and I hope that this review will get at least a few more people watching and talking about it.  The acting is superb, the storytelling is innovative and creative, and the amount of twists will keep you on your toes the entire time the film is rolling. I wish I could say more about how the movie unfolds, but I don't want to run the risk of giving away too much.
If you are looking for a fresh take in the thriller genre, I highly recommend placing Marrowbone at the top of your to-watch list.  I promise you will not be disappointed.