The latest short film from North Carolina-based filmmaker Andrew Huggins, Soul Bones tells the story of Baker Alred (Zach Ball), a relatively reclusive guy with a mysterious aura who is forced to confront his prejudices when a new family moves into his rural neighborhood. 

The new family includes young Harrison (Lucien Rattray), a seemingly isolated youth whose presence proves to be a bit of a nuisance but whose persistence seems to trigger something resembling connectedness within Baker despite his own obvious resistance. As the young man and his mother (Mirachol Carroll) increasingly make their presence felt in Baker's life, something even darker threatens Baker's mental state. 

Enveloped by Alexander Arntzen's atmospheric and brooding original score, Soul Bones casts a dark spell over the viewer as we're never 100% sure what's going on and we're not quite sure, in particular, if Baker is a good guy in the making or a dark force to be reckoned with. 

Whatever you decide about Baker, Soul Bones soars on the strength of Zach Ball's intense, forceful performance that somehow manages to also be intimate and introspective. You can't help but be mesmerized by him when he's on the screen. The rest of the film's ensemble is also strong including Rattray and Carroll along with supporting players Kimberly Hester Huffstetler and Chris Wolfe. 

Derek Donovan's lensing for the film adds to the film's mysterious tension, though it's ultimately Huggins's intelligent, thoughtful story that really breathes life into everything that happens here. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic