Boneyard Review | A Peppy Mel Gibson Can’t Save Dark True Crime Thriller

The creepiest part of Boneyard, besides its title, is the fact that the villain at hand may still be walking God’s green Earth at this very moment. Anyone unfamiliar with the West Mesa murders should brush up, whether you tune in for this formulaic cop thriller or not. The discovery of numerous skeletal remains back in 2009 sent shockwaves through Albequerque, New Mexico and across the U.S., as it quickly became a national story and investigation. Serial killers and sex trafficking rings were thought to be linked; suspects were named, but the overall investigation, as they say, is ongoing.

That’s not to say the lead authorities in charge, portrayed in Boneyard by Brian Van Holt, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Nora Zehetner, and Mel Gibson, give it their all in trying to find the culprit(s). Just like the results of the real-life investigation, the end result of their new film — from director Asif Akbar (Skeletons in the Closet) and a script he wrote with Hank Byrd, Vincent E. McDaniel and Koji Steven Sakai — is less than satisfying.

A Bone-Chilling Discovery…

Boneyard (2024)

2/5

Inspired by true crime stories, this chilling crime-thriller follows Police Chief Carter (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson), Detective Ortega (Brian Van Holt), and Agent Petrovick (Mel Gibson) in a multi-agency effort to identify and apprehend the killer. As each of their agendas and methods clash, a tangled web of intrigue casts suspicion in all directions.

Release Date

July 5, 2024

Director

Asif Akbar

Runtime

1h 36m

Writers

Asif Akbar , Hank Byrd , Vincent E. McDaniel

Distributor(s)

Lionsgate

Pros

• Mel Gibson and Nora Zehetner are delightful and magnetic to watch.
• It’s an important story to spotlight.

Cons

• 50 Cent and Brian Van Holt are badly miscast and some supporting characters overact or are weak.
• There’s a flat, amateurish tone to the entire film, never building suspense or thrills.
• You ultimately don’t care about any of these characters.

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According to the investigative reports that have been released to the masses, the 11 women whose remains are found in Boneyard were buried between the years 2001 and 2005, but it wasn’t until 2009 when a woman walking her dog happened to discover a human bone sticking out of the ground in the West Mesa area of Albuquerque. Said bone discovery is how Akbar’s film kicks off, to thrilling effect. There’s something to be said about a terrifying discovery during the sweaty daylight, especially against the blinding desert backdrop, reminding us that evil doesn’t just lurk at night and is seemingly omnipresent in today’s society.

It’s too bad the rest of the film can’t match it. Kelly Reichardt’s masterpiece First Cow started off similarly, with a woman (Alia Shawkat) discovering a pair of skeletons by coincidence, and the rest of that film is rather mellow in tone. The problem with Boneyard is that its rather flat tone for the rest of its duration isn’t compensated by heartfelt characters, gorgeous cinematography, profound themes, and layered performances like First Cow offers.

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Nora Zehetner Is Great Amid Miscast Actors

That’s not to say the lead performers in Boneyard don’t give it a go. There’s Detective Young, who’s the only woman in the case and surrounded by hyper-masculinity. She’s played by the great but underrated Nora Zehetner — who doesn’t seem to have aged a day since her standout turn in Rian Johnson’s neo-noir masterpiece Brick nearly 20 years ago. Zehetner deserves better than her rather thin character in Boneyard, yet we’re rooting for her all the way, especially as she gets pushback from her department, perhaps for sexist reasons.

50 Cent has performed well on occasion over the years, but here he seems out of place as the rather stiff chief overseeing detectives like Ortega (Brian Van Holt). We know 50 Cent can do comedy, grit, and more, but having to play an authority role here limits the performer. You never once believe he’s at the top of the hierarchy. The same poor casting goes for Van Holt, unfortunately, who leans too far into his gruff voice and simmering anger. He seems like he’s perpetually flexing his muscles, or just constipated. It’s limiting for the otherwise charming and handsome performer who usually lights up the big and small screen when he appears.

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Mel Gibson Keeps Working His Charm

The director has confirmed that actual law enforcement consulted on the film, and that shows to an extent, as we watch the characters work tirelessly day and night in this seemingly doomed investigation. 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.

Eccentric yet skilled detectives have been the highlight of many tense and even bleak thrillers. In Fargo, it was Frances McDormand. In Red State, it’s John Goodman. In The Long Goodbye, it’s Elliott Gould. In Boneyard, it’s Mel Gibson sporting a thick beard and a sharp-tongued American accent that keeps the mood light despite his dark backstory involving his deceased daughter that fuels his motivation to seek similarly unjust tragedies like the one in West Mesa.

Gibson has been keeping folks updated on Lethal Weapon 5, which will surely have more momentum than Boneyard, but this film does remind us how great he is at playing a quirky cop. However, his comic relief in this latest project is few and far between, and not enough for Boneyard to keep a pulse — even when the plot throws little twists and turns along the way, suggesting the horrific acts may be tied to an inside job.

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Don’t Forget the West Mesa Murders

There’s another “big twist” in the third act, but it doesn’t necessarily feel that way, since the film is all sort of muddled down by a flat, formulaic tone and a script that just seems to be checking all the predictable, requisite boxes as it progresses. In our recent interview with Van Holt, he stressed how he hopes this narrative will have a positive influence on the real-life investigation. Indeed, it will hopefully re-shed light on this ongoing tragedy, but perhaps the story is best left in the hands of documentary filmmakers until the culprit is finally nabbed.

From Lionsgate, Boneyard is now available on demand and in select theaters as of July 5, 2024. You can get it on digital platforms like Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Google Play, YouTube, and through Prime Video with the link below.

Watch Boneyard