Bone

Larry Cohen would become famous for schlock horror and thrillers, but his directorial debut was this absurd little black comedy. The basic plot is a lot like the one that features in any number of exploitation films, although the consequences are handled differently. It would seem that Cohen was tying to make some points on race and culture classes; but that side of the film doesn't come across particularly well, and it's better to enjoy Bone for what it is. The comedy was never going to appeal to a mainstream audience because its pitch black and at times, it's difficult to tell if the film is actually meant to be funny. The plot focuses on Beverley Hill's couple Bill, a used car salesman, and his wife Bernadette. Their lives are thrown into turmoil one day when a black man named Bone breaks into their house and demands money. However, all is not rosy for him either - as it soon transpires that despite having the biggest house in the neighbourhood, Bill and Bernadette aren't well off at all, and their marriage doesn't seem to be as happy as first assumed.

This film stands out from a lot of other seventies stuff simply because it is so bizarre, and because of the odd way in which the plot plays out. Cohen sets up the film so that it's not always obvious where he's going to take it, and while there aren't a great deal of surprises with the plot; it at least isn't predictable. The acting is of a rather high standard considering that the film is very much a B-movie. Granted, none of the cast deserves an award for their performances; but all fit into their respective roles well, and none of the performances are particularly over the top. Larry Cohen would go on to prove himself as a more than capable director in the years after this film was released, with films the likes of The Stuff, It's Alive and The Ambulance; but even here, on his directorial debut, Cohen still manages to direct his film with style and panache, which elevates above the level of most similar films. Overall, despite not being as trashy as his later films; Bone is still well worth tracking down for the Larry Cohen fan, and gets a definite thumbs up from me!

At last I have found the holy grail of modern cinema. 'Housewife' is the film many people spend half their lives looking for. The stylized approach to incidental music, flashback techniques and the coming together of elusive plot strands all go towards making a truly first class motion picture. This film stands as a beacon shining in the darkness from continent to continent, breaking every mould, chasing its own hysteria which the film makes no bones about concealing. 'Housewife' is the yardstick for a truly wonderful film.

I first saw Bone aka Housewife back in high school (over ten years ago) after a friend dubbed for me his VHS copy. It was a scratchy print, yet it didn't stop me from being mesmerized by this film. The movie stars Andrew Duggan and Joyce Van Patten as Bill and Bernadette a down on their luck Beverly Hills couple that one day find a rat in their pool. As usual, they have no luck getting a hold of pest control but guess who shows up instead? None other than Bone, played by Yaphet Kotto, a psychotic, intimidating, yet lovable black man with paint stains on his shirt. Bone kindly gets the rat out of the pool and then takes Bernadette hostage. Bill is sent on a mission to withdraw all the money from his account(s) or Bernadette gets it (in more ways than one). To give away anything more would be criminal. Watching the gorgeous new DVD of this was like falling in love all over again. Yet, I couldn't help but think there's no way in Hell a film like this could get made today. Here's why: a) It makes you sympathize with a potential rapist. b) A scene of a woman, Jeannie Berlin, talking about an incident of child molestation before hopping in to bed with Bill is one of the films most hilarious moments. c) Bone's character truly challenges so-called 'racial tolerance' amongst a liberal couple. There's no way you could get a masterpiece of agitation like this released by the P.C. Gestapo that currently runs Tinseltown. Owned! In my opinion this is Larry Cohen's best. God Told Me To comes in a close second. It shows what a truly visionary, subversive director he was before cranking out mediocre works like Phone Booth. What happened Mr.Cohen? Maybe Brain DePalma knows. Yaphet Kotto gives, as usual, a knockout performance. Mr.Kotto is an amazing, underrated actor whom I'd love to see get a starring role again. Oh wait, did I mention how cool the soundtrack is?

I have to say I love the movie's intent just as much as the movie itself. I had a friend of mine watch it with me who tends to do what we all do sometimes, even myself. That is live the pretend so-called life instead of doing what the so-called hippies do. We often look down on people seem to not have "done something with their lives", and at the same time secretly admire them for doing what they want with their lives. When the movie finished she just stood there saying, "I don't get it", but the look in her eyes told me she got it all right. The funny thing is the movie really is like a judgment on America and it's lifestyle that will be even more significant as this lifestyle and the way it kills us becomes more apparent.

Rent this movie and watch it with some of your affluent buddies who are one bad investment or FCC investigation away from poverty. They might learn what life is all about before it is too late.

BONE (3+ outta 5 stars) Very odd film that gets better and better the more times you see it. The plot sounds like an average thriller... but the movie is really a comedy... a very black, very subversive comedy. A well-to-do middle-aged couple (Andrew Duggan, Joyce Van Patten) have their bickering interrupted by a mysterious, threatening black man (Yaphet Kotto) who seems to come out of nowhere. He ransacks the house, looking for money. After coming up dry he sends the husband to the bank to withdraw some cash... if he doesn't come back in an hour he is going to rape the wife. Well, the husband takes the opportunity to run out on his wife and have a one night stand with a crazy woman he meets outside of the bank. The wife and her captor, in the meantime, actually begin to form a bond... and soon take off after the errant husband to seek their revenge. Or do they? Excellent performances and dialogue. I was a little taken aback by the movie the first time I saw it because I wasn't sure where it was going... so you'll need to keep an open mind to fully appreciate it. Why was Yaphet Kotto never a big movie star? He OWNS this movie! (Then again, he pretty well owns EVERY movie he appears in.) Classic opening dream sequence of Andrew Duggan selling used cars filled with gruesome accident victims!