There is an interesting idea here. It is a sort of weird mix of John Carpenter's The Thing, H.P. Lovecraft with sand thrown in. Lots of sand. For anyone who has seen The Thing and read Lovecraft sand surely doesn't spoil things. It actually makes for an interesting setting that is not too often used in horror. In fact, it is not really used much in any type of movie.Perhaps it's the fact that such a featureless landscape is hard to imagine as anything other than dull and certainly not frightening. The typical desert doesn't have many, if any at all, caves or any other crevices and burrows where something awful can hide. So just where does a demon, that can strip someone's skin clean off their bones hide? Well, you'll just have to watch to find the answer, but unfortunately it is that answer that'll provide you with a let down. Like I said, the idea is good, but the manner in which it is shown commits one of the cardinal sins of the horror genre and that's showing too much too quickly. Virtually every horror movie that does so automatically just slips a few notches. It doesn't become frightening. Startling at best, but that's just not enough. Also, as another letdown is the lack of atmosphere. The cinematography hardly does justice to the setting and it relies too much on the mediocre special effects to cause chills. Predictably, those chills aren't nearly as chilling as they could have been. Also, the film seems to strive a little too far in giving a scientific explanation for the horror. That doesn't affect the film as bad as the other things, but it does take away a good deal of the mystery.The manner in which is presented that is real down, but the initial idea remains a very good one. Meaning horror fans will want to tune in, if just for that. --- 5/10Rated R for horror images and profanity. Ages 13+

This horror movie starts out promisingly enough and there is a moment where I thought to myself "this is going to be really good". However, it gets rather boring rather quick at the end. The acting is fairly good, as is the location and the story starts out rather well too. The problem, not enough kills on screen and an ending where you have the monster basically turning tail and running. I wanted to see more, especially after a very good sleeping bag scene where I thought the movie was picking up and going to be a winner. Unfortunately after that the movie showed the monster very little and the back of the DVD lied as it told me that the desert beneath the people literally came alive and was capable of devouring their flesh...now that would have been some movie, a nearly inescapable situation. Granted that would have made viewers uncomfortable and it might of ramped up the tension, but that is what horror movies are supposed to do! Instead we have very few shots of the creature or creatures as it were and when we do see it, it is mainly on the defensive. Still it wasn't all bad, it just needed more horror less hunting and more chomping.

The Bone Snatcher's stood up to me watching it twice, and had enough in it the first time round to make me want to buy it when it came out on DVD, put simply it's a fun and well-made ride. In terms of budget and quality it's like a feature-length special of Stargate or something, i.e. solid special effects, tight writing and solid acting. There's nothing deeply flawed about this movie and it's an enjoyable and engaging movie.Still, something about it stops me climbing on to the rooftop and singing out its praises. It's mainly the fact that while it is an entertaining and well-made movie it doesn't do anything that takes it into the horror stratosphere, and more importantly it doesn't seem like the film-makers were interested in making it anything more than it is. There's just something there that makes you feel they held back a little, and that's kind of frustrating.Also, as a horror, The Bone Snatcher is lacking. It's exciting yes, but scary? Not really. Given its 'monster in the dark' setting there's a lot of potential for tension and some grisly scares, but aside from some gore, most of what you get is well-shot action sequences. Really, it plays out much more like a Sci-Fi action feature than a horror movie, and that's a little disappointing.Still, acting is strong, especially from the leads, one of whom seasoned vets will recognise as the girl from Lighthouse, and the film is directed with style and skill. The film easily keeps up with the big-boys, and in certain shots even outdoes them.So in conclusion, this is a fun, entertaining Sci-Fi horror, but the emphasis on the Sci-Fi could alienate some people. Those who it doesn't alienate will find a well-acted, well-directed and surprisingly well-rounded underground treat.

This movie was only vaguely entertaining. I thought it looked like a cool movie, but I was in for a very nasty surprise. The plot had potential at first, but when the film started running it started going down, down to the point where one does not care anymore. The plot had slowed down to less than a crawl by the time they killed the monster. The monster was original I have to admit, a bunch of man-eating ants that needed the bones of their victims to move around was okay. The actors, on the other hand, were boring beyond imagining. The "cute bimbo" of the film looked a lot like a Neanderthal ape and the other actors were annoying, especially King Kong Karl as I came to call him, because of his rash, stupid actions. Another annoying character in the film was Judgement Day Magda, a complete and utter religious fanatic, she ends up as ant chow fortunately. King Kong Karl playing intrepid detective was the most pathetic part of the film. The film includes a lot of trekking through grandiose arid scenery, so much of it you end up thinking this is a National Geographic documentary. Things I learned from this movie: -The local Namib Desert folk make ugly, cheap-looking talismans to ward off man-eating ants. -Truck drivers are all religious fanatics. -A man-eating ant colony looks always surprisingly empty of ants.