Road trips

Many viewers have issued a stark warning for anyone wanting to watch the film

A horrifyingly brutal film that reportedly had fans “fainting” with others issuing a warning is available to stream on Prime Video.

Bones and All was first released back in 2022 starring Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell as fans are warned before they watch the “unhinged” film. The R-Rated romance is directed by Oscar nominated filmmaker Luca Guadagnino who gained recognition for his 2017 hit Call Me By Your Name.

The grisly horror romance, based on the novel of the same name by Camille DeAngelis from 2015, follows two cannibals who unexpectedly fall in love, struggling with their uncontrollable urge to eat human flesh.

Maren (played by Taylor Russell) decides to track down her mother when along the way she forms an unlikely alliance with another young cannibal Lee (Timothée Chalamet).

An older eater of human flesh, Sully, develops an obsession with Maren as it has been dubbed a horror version of the classic love story Romeo and Juliet.

Now, the film – which won awards following its world premier at the Venice International Film Festival in 2022 – is available for streaming on Prime Video for anyone who dares press play.

Prime Video teases: “In a world that cannot abide who they truly are, a young woman who is learning how to survive on the margins of society and an intense, disenfranchised drifter embark upon a road trip, searching for identity and chasing beauty in a perilous world.”

With an impressive score of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, one reviewer said: “This is the most creepy, atmospheric, and yet beautiful movie I have ever seen! It deserved so much more acclaim that it got!”

Another wrote: “A truly twisted Romeo and Juliet story that horrifies you and pulls on the heart strings at the same time.”

A third added: “The perfect balance between horror and romance. The masterpiece I never knew I needed.” A fourth replied: “This was horrifying and beautiful.”

Critic Barry Hertz for the Globe and Mail said: “Bones and All is beautiful and unhinged all in the same bite.”

Over on IMDB, the film scored a slightly lower rating of 6.8/10 stars, but viewers did not hold back on praise.

One movie-goer enthused: “BONES AND ALL is an intense, heart-breaking, and uplifting tale that is sure to leave an impact. It’s a must-watch for anyone who enjoys horror and romance, or simply needs a reminder of the power of love. Be warned though – this movie has lots of blood and gore, so it’s not for the faint of heart.”

Another warned: “Not for the faint-hearted and definitely don’t eat a lot before the movie.”

There were reports at the time of cinemagoers fainting and vomiting during screenings due to its gory details, with director Luca Guadagnino telling the Irish Times back in 2022: “I heard about people fainting and some people also throwing up, some screaming.”

Following its release, Russell won the Best Young Actress award at Venice Film Festival, and the pair’s performances were widely praised by film fanatics. Contrary to its critical success, the film seemingly failed at the box office, grossing $15.2million worldwide on a reported $16-20million budget – though it remains a hit with many viewers.

Bones and All is available to stream on Prime Video

Lauren Burnison’s life has changed significantly since she quit drinking in 2016. Now the Perthshire, Scotland mum runs alcohol-free travel company We Love Lucid

While many of us will be feeling the excesses of Christmas and New Year’s, fewer will have taken things as far as Lauren Burnison did back when she was drinking.

After growing up in Belfast in the grips of the Troubles, where a “blanket of fear” hung over everything, Lauren “bounded headlong into a void of self-loathing and addiction”. She left home and moved to Edinburgh and Buenos Aires during her years of “chaos”.

On New Year’s Eve 2002, things came to a heady, violent peak when her “testosterone-fuelled gang of twenty-something-year-old” pals clashed with some strangers on a booze-fueled bender on the streets of Argentina.

Today, things could not be more different for Lauren.

READ MORE: Seven ‘red list’ destinations Brits should not travel to in 2026READ MORE: Canary Islands among holiday destinations placed on ‘no travel’ list for 2026

Having long left Argentina behind, the 41-year-old quit alcohol in 2016 and embarked on an epic world trip. “I’d done a lot of travelling in the past, but this time it was different. This time, I was seeing life through the clear lens of lucidity,” she explained.

“Towards the end of my trip, I stumbled across a quaint little Andalusian town called Ronda, in southern Spain. It was there that I was inspired to create alcohol-free travel experiences.”

Over the past decade, Lauren has been channelling this newfound lust for life into We Love Lucid – a company that organises teetotal group trips, which claims to be the UK’s first alcohol-free travel company.

“Our trips are geared towards sober solo travellers who are looking for a new challenge and who want to connect with others like them. The focus is on connection and creating new and unforgettable experiences that don’t revolve around booze,” she explains.

Going booze-free has also changed Lauren’s family holidays.

“I recently embarked on a two-month road trip in Spain and Portugal with my four-year-old daughter. My motivation for the trip was partly to escape the dark Scottish winter, but it’s also an opportunity to expand our horizons and do something that challenges us,” the Perthshire woman explained.

“What I’m enjoying most about the trip is spending the majority of our time outdoors. It’s a brilliant tonic for mental health, and something I want to do more of when we get back to the UK. We prepare our meals outside and we eat outside under the stars. My daughter spends her days playing with other children and animals while I get on with the basic chores of cooking and washing, along with writing and making driftwood art. Sometimes, we head out to explore the local surroundings. Last week we visited the remains of an ancient Roman city in Extremadura, Spain. It was fascinating!

“The best days are the ones we haven’t planned, like an impromptu trip to the beach. We’re especially looking forward to the Big Wave surfing competition in Nazaré, where surfers tackle waves up to 100ft high.”

Had the single mum still been drinking, such a trip would “be almost impossible”, in part due to the hangovers, Lauren says. Not drinking has also freed up cash to spend exploring the world.

“There’s so much to do. We meet a lot of different people on the trip, and many ask why I don’t drink, so the topic comes up quite a lot. In fact, it has led to some interesting conversations and friendships. This year, I will celebrate ten years of sobriety, which is hard to believe sometimes. My sobriety is my biggest priority in life. Without it I wouldn’t be doing any of this.”

While plans for the coming year aren’t yet finalised, 2026 promises to be a big one for We Love Lucid. They will likely include a group climb up Mount Toubkal in Morocco, and a women’s-only journey along the Portuguese section of the Camino de Santiago, to raise funds for the She Recovers Foundation.

You can follow Lauren’s travels on her Substack and find out more about We Love Lucid on her website.

North Macedonia is a little-known country that sits north of Greece – and it’s one of the most mountainous countries in the world, with stunning views and a rich history

A hidden gem nestled in stunning mountains lies just three hours from the United Kingdom. Boasting emerald-green peaks and snow-capped summits, North Macedonia presents travellers with an opportunity to explore territory largely untouched by mainstream tourism.

Positioned directly north of Greece, North Macedonia is steeped in rich heritage spanning Byzantine, Ottoman, and Yugoslav periods. This landlocked nation achieved independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, adopting the name North Macedonia in 2019 after resolving a lengthy naming row with Greece.

It ranks among the world’s most mountainous countries, with over 85 per cent of its territory dominated by peaks, reports the Express. Mount Korab, situated on the Albanian frontier, soars to 9,030 feet (2,752 metres). The rugged landscape has become integral to daily life for North Macedonia’s inhabitants.

“When I enter my car, whichever direction I want to drive, I have a mountain in front of me and a mountain behind me,” local resident Frosina Pandurska-Dramikjanin told CNN.

The entire country houses 2 million people, marginally fewer than Birmingham’s population. Whilst those in the tourism sector believe the nation has tremendous potential, they remain cautious about excessive visitor numbers.

Aleksandar Bogoevski, owner of Sustainable Adventure Travels, added: “Approximately one million passengers are transiting Macedonia during the summertime. They don’t stop, I think there are so many other things that can be seen.”

One of the country’s star attractions is Lake Ohrid, which spans the Albanian border. The North Macedonian portion of the lake earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979, with the surrounding region added the following year.

Ohrid town ranks among the globe’s most ancient human settlements and houses the oldest Slavic monastery, St Pantelejmon. According to UNESCO, the lake supports roughly 200 plant and animal species.

The Šar Mountain range, positioned along the northwestern Albanian frontier, provides North Macedonia’s visitors with countless walking and hiking opportunities.

Mountain villagers still practise age-old shepherding traditions known as transhumance. This ancient custom involves guiding sheep on seasonal journeys to villages during winter months before returning them to mountain peaks come summer.

Food enthusiasts exploring North Macedonia will encounter a delicious blend of Balkan, Mediterranean, and Turkish flavours.

The country’s signature dish, Tave grave, features mainly baked beans prepared in a clay vessel. Other beloved meals showcase fresh ingredients, barbecued meats, and pastries.

Skopje, the nation’s capital, houses approximately 526,000 residents and lies within the Skopje Valley beside the Vardar River.

YouTuber Drew Binksy branded Skopje amongst the “weirdest cities in the world” due to its dramatic riverside monuments. During his trip to North Macedonia, Drew was completely charmed by Lake Ohrid.

In a video he gushed: “Anyways, the coolest lake in Europe is called Ohrid. It’s a really clear freshwater lake.

“You can go diving in it, cliff jumping and just have a day on the water. It’s really, really awesome. That’s my favorite thing about [North] Macedonia by far.

“Overall, it’s just a really chill, cool, small country, easy to road trip, Balkan vibes, good food. I highly recommend North Macedonia. I actually think it’s super underrated and it’s one of my favorite Balkan countries.”

A direct flight between the UK and Skopje takes between three and three-and-a-half hours.