The Bone Snatcher

Plot

When workers begin disappearing in a South African mine, Dr. Straker and a search team are sent into the desert to find out why the geologists of a diamond expedition have lost radio contact. They arrive at camp of the scientists in the desert, but soon find the neatly gnawed bones of their colleagues and a trail that leads them to a strange rock formation. Once at camp they find only the cleanly gnawed bones of the workers. Soon it becomes clear that there is a murderous beast on the loose.

The researchers decided to investigate the structure, but in the gathering darkness, sheer hell breaks loose as the creature, composed of a swarm of ant-like insects wrapped around the bones of its victims, hunts them for their bones. A game of cat and mouse continues through the desert, with the team being slowly picked off and the bug and bone monster eventually being chased down in a derelict mine building.

Zack finds it hard to decide to kill the yellow "brain bug" that controls the swarm that has killed dozens of people, but he eventually does so. Suddenly, the derelict building starts to fall down, leaving Zack and Mikki to run back to the truck - where they find they are now the only survivors of the team. The film ends with Mikki driving into the distance apparently oblivious to the contents of the box in the trunk of her car.

Cast

Production

The film was shot in the year 2002 in the South African city Cape Town and in the desert from Namibia.

Release

The Bone Snatcher was released on DVD by First Look Pictures on December 23 2003. It was re-released by Anchor Bay Entertainment on July 26 the following year. First Look later released the film on Steelbook on May 5, 2009.

Reception

Critical reception for The Bone Snatcher has been predominantly negative. Film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 0%, based on 6 reviews, with a rating average of 2.8/10. David Nusair from Reel Film.com awarded the film a negative 1 out of a possible 4 stars, writing, "More than anything else, The Bone Snatcher is just dull. There's barely enough material here to fill a 15-minute short, let alone a 90-minute feature - and for a horror film, it's shockingly non-horrific".