“Some cases stay buried… until someone digs too deep.”

Review

Boneyard is a grim, true-crime-inspired thriller that tackles the haunting subject of a serial killer case rooted in real events. The film is loosely based on the West Mesa murders, where the remains of eleven women and an unborn child were discovered in the New Mexico desert—an unsolved mystery that shocked the public.

The story follows a multi-agency hunt for a suspected serial killer known as “The Bone Collector.” Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson plays Police Chief Carter, who leads the local investigation, while Brian Van Holt’s Detective Ortega and Mel Gibson’s FBI Agent Petrovick bring different policing styles and agendas into the fray. Their methods clash as they try to piece together clues and motivations while public pressure mounts.

Gibson’s presence lends a touch of gravitas, but his screen time is limited, and many critics and viewers noted that the film struggles with coherence and pacing. The narrative often feels disjointed and more like a series of loosely connected scenes than a tightly woven thriller, which affects tension and momentum.

Acting quality is mixed: while some performances show commitment, others—including Curtis Jackson’s—have been criticized for uneven delivery and lack of depth, which weakens character impact. The script leans heavily on dramatic beats without fully developing the emotional or investigative stakes, making certain scenes feel like separate vignettes rather than part of a cohesive whole.

Visually and technically, Boneyard is functional—cinematography and editing keep the plot moving—but it never quite builds the atmospheric tension expected of a serial-killer thriller. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 44% “rotten” rating, indicating a generally lukewarm critical response, and audience scores similarly skewed negative.

Highlights

• A compelling real-world crime premise rooted in actual events.

• Mel Gibson’s brief, memorable turn adds veteran presence.

• Performances and dialogue were received unevenly, with several viewers citing flat delivery.

• Narrative pacing and coherence undercut suspense.

• Attempts at honoring victims’ stories don’t fully overcome structural faults.

Final Verdict

5.8/10

Boneyard aims to shed light on a chilling, real-world case and features a capable cast, but its execution falls short of gripping or respectful true-crime storytelling. It’s a watchable but flawed thriller: interesting as a concept and occasionally engaging in performance, yet often too uneven and disjointed to elevate itself beyond routine crime drama territory.

“The truth can be darker than fiction—if only the story behind it were fully told.”