Movie Review: 'The Legacy Of The Bones' Is One Chilling Sequel

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Before you watch “The Legacy of the Bones” (“Legado en Los Huesos”), you need to watch “The Invisible Guardian.” It is the only way to fully obtain the context of the sequel, which works as a standalone movie. Though it thrives as part of a larger creative puzzle. Thankfully, Netflix is already streaming the first movie, and yours truly was already caught up before watching the sequel.

“The Legacy of the Bones” is an unnerving movie that picks back up with the beyond sympathetic detective, Amaia Salazar (Marta Etura). As the film gets underway, another murder mystery beckons. Amaia is subsequently swept up into the subversive and disturbing investigation, which comes to reveal itself as being personal.


The murder mystery tracks back to the past and Amia’s family. Speaking of whom, if there was ever a more detestable mother in film history, they would have to battle Amaia’s. She is evil, and it turns out that the depth of her horrifying depravity runs even further than previously known.

One of the most difficult parts of the movie series continues to be the lack of explanation for why Amaia’s mother was so incredibly enabled by Amaia’s father, aunt, and sisters. On that note, “The Legacy of the Bones” draws on the unsettling revelations made in “The Invisible Guardian” without explicitly recounting them.

Hence, the importance of watching that film beforehand. As a sequel, “The Legacy of the Bones” does a terrific job of further cultivating its characters and the twisted web they have been caught in. At the same time, it also serves as an intriguing film in its own right as a character-driven piece.


As a mystery, it is intriguing, and as a family drama, it is equally matched. “The Legacy of the Bones,” like its predecessor, is a prime example of how a slow-burning mystery is ignited. It smolders for a long time before the flames are visible. That said, if not for the sympathetic Amaia and Marta Etura’s performance as her, it would be far more frustrating to wait for the blaze.

Amaia makes bad choices and has a misguided view of her family. However, Marta Etura grounds Amaia with such a beautiful authenticity that you cannot begrudge her for her well-meaning flaws. “The Legacy of the Bones” hinges on Etura’s performance, and without her, it would collapse.

Unlike Spain’s recent Netflix release, “The Twin Murders,” “The Legacy of the Bones” can unravel without the pressure of providing all of the answers. A third film is on its way, which means prospective viewers may want to decide if they are going to wait before wading further. All told, it does provide enough of a payoff to make the wait manageable.


“The Legacy of the Bones” is a well-executed film that works with the essence of a Giallo. As someone who enjoys scary suspense thrillers overall, I only hope more movies in the genre are made and distributed. They are a riveting watch, and they seem to be making a welcome comeback of late.

If you thought “The Invisible Guardian” was good, its sequel proves to be a worthy follow-up to it. It is a far more definitive offering than some on Netflix. “The Legacy of the Bones” works within the realm of the captivating “Perdida.”

I look forward to seeing how it all concludes in the third film (“Offering to the Storm”) in the trilogy. Hopefully, Netflix obliges. For now, it is currently streaming “The Legacy of the Bones” and its predecessor film, “The Invisible Guardian.”

Rating: 7/10