He is betrayed and brutally murdered by corrupt cop Lupovich and drug pusher Eddie Mack who then force Jimmy's associates Jeremiah and Shotgun to take turns stabbing him to death.

Four teens, Patrick, his brother Bill, their step-sister Tia and their best friend Maurice, buy the Bones house to turn it into a nightclub.

Exploring the basement, Patrick, Cynthia, Bill, Tia, and Maurice find Jimmy Bones' remains and realize he was actually murdered.

On opening night, Maurice is lured into an upstairs room and mauled to death by the black dog, fully resurrecting Jimmy.

Pearl, Cynthia, Patrick, Bill, Tia and Jeremiah's wife Nancy watch him get dragged off by Jimmy, leaving nothing but a melted hole in the window.

Before jumping to safety, Cynthia is briefly pulled back into the building by an unseen force (her father possessing her after his previous anchor, the bloody dress, was destroyed by Pearl).

"[8] Mike Clark of USA Today felt that Dickerson's talents were wasted in directing this "wannabe chiller" and was only brought in to fulfill a studio mandate for Halloween, concluding that, "[I]f grossness gives you the giggles, at least a couple of the movie's effects indeed put a little "wow" in this cinematic bowwow.

"[9] Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle criticized the film for being "ill-conceived" with its plot structure and not focusing more on Snoop's character and his revenge tale.

[11] Stephen Holden of The New York Times praised Snoop's portrayal of the title character, saying he's "ultimately scarier than most conventional Hollywood monsters", and Dickerson for infusing the film with "a special glee and an unusual density of scary imagery.

Yahoo's Katana Dumont's review of Bones lauds the film as a must-see for fans of "campy horror classics," describing it as a mix of "gore, violence, sympathetic villain, social parable, dark plot, comical scenes, and decent acting."

[15] Alan Dorich from Comic Book Ressources praises the film for its underrated qualities, highlighting Snoop Dogg's compelling performance as the vengeful Jimmy Bones.

Director Ernest Dickerson's expertise in blending horror, humor, and social commentary, along with his visually striking style, adds depth to the film.

While Bones was initially overlooked, Dorich argues it's a "fun and effective" horror film that deserves more recognition and a larger fanbase.

He highlights its strong story, which tackles themes of drugs and corruption affecting the Black community, alongside impressive practical effects that nod to various horror sub-genres.

Moore also lauds Ernest Dickerson's direction and the standout performances from Snoop Dogg and Pam Grier, calling the film a "true cult classic.

[20] In an December 2024 interview with Bootleg Kev, Snoop Dogg defended Bones, explaining that, while the film might not have been "great" to some, it was pivotal for his acting career.

He highlighted the valuable experience of working with a talented cast, including Pam Grier, Ricky Harris, and Clifton Powell.

Prior to Bones, he was mostly playing versions of himself, but the experience taught him to tackle more complex, distant roles, marking a shift in his approach to acting.