FrightFest review – 213 Bones

FrightFest review – 213 Bones

Forensic anthropology lecturer Kelly (Colin Egglesfield) sets his class a practical test involving stacks of fake bones – only real human remains turn up in the mix … and a masked slasher is killing off the cast of Breakfast Clubby student types.

Directed by Jeffrey Primm, who also co-wrote with Dominic Arcelin, 213 Bones is a retro slasher with an unstressed late 1980s/early 1990s setting, decent characterisations (all the kids are just off-centre enough not to be complete stereotypes) and distinctively-staged and -cut kill scenes (this slasher stabs fast and precisely, which might or might not be a clue).  The long-faced, straggle-haired mask is memorable, too.  There are plentiful red herrings and suspects and the bickering classmates are all kind of fun to hang out with until the knife sticks in them.

In the end, there’s not a lot to 213 Bones beyond perfectly aping, say, Cutting Class or cry_wolf … but it delivers enough entertainment value for audiences not to mind.  With Dean Cameron (Rockula) as the token mature student.  The young cast aren’t too familiar, but are bright enough to suggest some of them will soon be names – Luna Fujimoto, Liam Woodrum, Mason Kennerly (class bad boy), Sarah Brooks, Simone Lockhart, Tony Weiss, Allegra Sweeney, Hunter Nance and Elizabeth O’Brien all register as pleasing presences.  With Scott Peat and Ted Dowling as slobbering, leering suspects and Francesca Barker McCormick as the snippy coroner.

Here’s the FrightFest listing.