--- title: "Skeletons" year: 2010 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/skeletons" fi1m_id: "skeletons" imdb_id: "tt1425933" tmdb_id: 46909 wikidata_id: "Q7534444" fi1m_score: 70 critics_score: 62 critics_reviews: 7 published: "2026-10-01T21:17:08.438932+00:00" updated: "2026-10-01T21:17:09.076635+00:00" region: "ID" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Skeletons (2010) Directed by Nick Whitfield · 1h 34m · Fantasy, Comedy, Thriller, Mystery ## Identity Skeletons - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/skeletons - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** skeletons - **IMDb ID:** tt1425933 - **TMDB ID:** 46909 - **Wikidata ID:** Q7534444 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1425933/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/46909, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7534444 **Fi1m score: 70** · Critics 62 from 7 reviews *In a sentence:* We would happily spend longer with these two men, preferably in a story that needed fewer repairs > Nick Whitfield’s supernatural comedy earns our affection through Ed Gaughan and Andrew Buckley, even when the storytelling wobbles. Its eccentricity occasionally feels laboured, but the humour has warmth and the sadness gets through. ## Synopsis Davis (Ed Gaughan) and Bennett (Andrew Buckley) are the central pair in this supernatural comedy, which mixes fantasy with mystery and elements of a thriller. Around them are Jane (Paprika Steen), Rebecca (Tuppence Middleton) and The Colonel (Jason Isaacs). Nick Whitfield writes and directs, with the emphasis on the two leads and the emotional complications of an eccentric supernatural story. Running 94 minutes, *Skeletons* moves between absurdist humour and more painful material, rather than keeping its fantasy, comedy and mystery in separate compartments. ## Review *Skeletons* is a good, uneven supernatural comedy whose chief pleasure is the company of its leading pair. Nick Whitfield, writing and directing, makes room for absurdity without treating every suggestion of pain as an invitation to another joke. That gives the film something worth staying for when its storytelling becomes untidy. We recommend it to anyone with patience for a fantasy that is more assured about its people than its plot. Ed Gaughan’s Davis and Andrew Buckley’s Bennett make that recommendation possible. Their appeal depends on an understated approach: neither performance seems determined to advertise how peculiar the material is, and the comedy benefits from their restraint. We warmed to them because their performances allow vulnerability to sit alongside the ridiculousness without demanding a change of acting style. Spending time with the pair remains enjoyable even when the story gives us reasons to question where it is going. Whitfield is also good at letting the humour admit something uncomfortable. The emotional passages work because the comedy has already encouraged affection, rather than merely asking us to admire a succession of odd ideas. We were moved more than we expected; the hurt registers through the performances instead of being left entirely to the supernatural premise. The film does not maintain that balance throughout, but its willingness to take these people seriously matters. Zac Nicholson’s cinematography gives the strangeness an atmosphere in which it can settle. It is an important contribution to a film that would become tiresome if every department insisted on telling us how eccentric it was. Simon Whitfield’s folk music is particularly well judged, supporting the humour and feeling without seeming imported from a more conventional comedy. The sound and images help make the shifts of tone easier to accept, even when the writing has not quite earned them. The principal weakness is Nick Whitfield’s script, which can mistake an unusual premise for sufficient dramatic development. Some of the plotting feels predictable despite the eccentricity, and the less convincing passages require goodwill that the actors have to supply. Rachel Tunnard’s editing cannot make every change of tone feel settled, although the film avoids becoming an exhausting succession of competing moods. At 94 minutes, it still has stretches where the charm is doing work the story ought to have done. Within supernatural comedy, understatement is a useful choice: the stranger the proposition, the less the actors need to point at it. *Skeletons* understands that better than it understands how to keep its mystery consistently persuasive. Its roughness sometimes suits the humour, though we would not defend every loose passage as a deliberate virtue. Choose it for Gaughan and Buckley, and allow a little patience for the writing; their company makes the allowance worthwhile. *Fi1m score 70, published 1 October 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics respond warmly to Skeletons, with praise centring on its eccentric humour, likeable performances and the feeling beneath its supernatural oddness. The favourable reviews find the central duo endearing and the comedy quietly affecting, crediting the film with making room for pain without losing its light touch. Its understated approach earns particular approval, while the rural locations and cinematography draw praise for atmosphere. The folk music also receives a favourable mention. The spread is wide, however, and the reservations go beyond whether its strangeness appeals. Even some supporters describe a comedy that comes close rather than fully succeeds. Time Out finds it likeable but scrappy, while Variety offers the sharpest dissent, judging the comedy unsuccessful and faulting a weak script and predictable, unconvincing plotting. The divide is chiefly over whether the performances and emotional warmth make its odd fantasy work. ## Straight answers **Is Skeletons worth watching?** *Skeletons* is worth watching for its warm, understated central performances, and we score it 70 out of 100. We recommend it to anyone who enjoys eccentric supernatural comedy and can forgive uneven plotting: Ed Gaughan and Andrew Buckley make the humour and sadness work even when the mystery wobbles. **How long is Skeletons, and what is it rated?** *Skeletons* runs 1h 34m. It is a fantasy and comedy film. **Where can I watch Skeletons in Indonesia?** *Skeletons* is not on any streaming or rental service in Indonesia at the moment. Availability is checked daily. **How violent or frightening is Skeletons, and is it suitable for children?** *Skeletons* has no listed UK or US certificate, so we cannot give a firm age recommendation or establish how violent or frightening it is. Our review describes supernatural mystery, thriller elements and emotionally painful material, but does not assess specific scares or violence. That leaves us without enough evidence to recommend it for children or particularly sensitive viewers. **How does Skeletons compare to A Matter of Life and Death?** *Skeletons* is the more qualified recommendation beside [*A Matter of Life and Death*](https://film.one/film/a-matter-of-life-and-death), which we find easier to recommend to a broad audience. Both bring wit and feeling to supernatural administration, but *Skeletons* relies heavily on its central pair to compensate for uneven plotting. We favour *A Matter of Life and Death* for its romantic fantasy, colour and performances. **What should I watch after Skeletons?** After *Skeletons*, try [*A Matter of Life and Death*](https://film.one/film/a-matter-of-life-and-death) (1946, Fi1m 92): For supernatural administration handled with wit, feeling and a distinctly British manner. Then [*Detectorists*](https://film.one/tv/detectorists) (2014, Fi1m 87): For another understated central partnership, rural atmosphere and affection earned without fuss. ### Reviews we read (7) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (85/100, inferred): Bradshaw finds the film intensely eccentric, heartfelt and very funny, calling it a breath of fresh air. He particularly praises its balance of odd fantasy with genuine emotion and pain. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/jul/01/skeletons-film-review) - **Empire**, David Hughes (70/100, inferred): Hughes finds the absurdist comedy nearly successful and strangely affecting. He especially praises the likeable lead performances and Simon Whitfield’s well-integrated folk music. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/skeletons-review/) - **Screen Daily** (64/100, inferred): The paywall prevents access to the critic’s verdict. No praise or complaint can be identified from the visible page. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/skeletons/5010418.article) - **Time Out**, Dave Calhoun (2/5): The critic calls the debut likeable but scrappy, suggesting its Edinburgh award may reflect weak competition. The page singles out its scrappiness as a drawback. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/skeletons) - **Variety**, Jay Weissberg (30/100, inferred): Weissberg finds the comedy unsuccessful and unlikely to withstand critical criticism. He particularly faults its lackluster script and predictable, unconvincing plot. [Read](https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/skeletons-1117942105/) - **Den of Geek**, Mark Harrison (4/5): Harrison gives the film a strongly positive review, calling it funny, clever, and poignant. He especially praises the terrific performances and the quirky, understated approach to its supernatural story. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/skeletons-review/) - **Eye for Film**, Owen Van Spall (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the film intriguing, well acted, quietly funny, and charming, though its strangeness will not suit everyone. They praise the endearing central duo and the atmosphere created by the cinematography and rural locations. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/skeletons-film-review-by-owen-van-spall) ## Details - **Director:** Nick Whitfield - **Director:** Nick Whitfield - **Writer:** Nick Whitfield - **Cinematography:** Zac Nicholson - **Editor:** Rachel Tunnard - **Music:** Simon Whitfield - **Producer:** Tracy Brimm, Kate Myers, Paul Welsh - **Cast:** Jason Isaacs as The Colonel; Ed Gaughan as Davis; Tuppence Middleton as Rebecca; Paprika Steen as Jane; Andrew Buckley as Bennett - **Runtime:** 1h 34m - **First release (the UK):** 16 July 2010 - **Genres:** Fantasy, Comedy, Thriller, Mystery ## Where to watch in Indonesia Not streaming, renting or buying in Indonesia at the last check. ## If you liked this - *A Matter of Life and Death* (1946), Fi1m 92: For supernatural administration handled with wit, feeling and a distinctly British manner. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/a-matter-of-life-and-death.md) - *After Life* (1998): Another quietly eccentric supernatural workplace, with memories treated as serious business. - *The Bothersome Man* (2006): For drier, colder absurdity about ordinary people accepting an extraordinary situation. - *Extra Ordinary* (2019): Irish supernatural comedy whose practical concerns keep its ghostly business agreeably grounded. - *Detectorists* (2014), Fi1m 87: For another understated central partnership, rural atmosphere and affection earned without fuss. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/tv/detectorists.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/skeletons