REVIEW: “Bone Lake” (2025)

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The first hour of “Bone Lake” feels reminiscent of the steamy thrillers that were popular on late-night cable in the late 80s and early 90s. It consciously tries to be alluring, sometimes even bordering on sensational. The film also aims to add a strong psychological element to its narrative. However, neither the attempts at pseudo-eroticism nor the predictable psychological tricks quite give this genre film the impact it strives for and so desperately needs.

“Bone Lake,” directed by Mercedes Bryce Morgan, has a definite idea of the kind of movie it wants to be, but it doesn’t quite go all in. While it’s never dull, a lot of it feels familiar, like we’ve seen these ideas before in other films. The movie doesn’t really come alive until the final fifteen minutes. It ends with a wild, over-the-top finale that’s incredibly gory and, while not entirely logical, is still a lot of fun.

Diego (Marco Pigossi) and Sage (Maddie Hasson) appear to be a content couple, and they book a weekend trip to a beautiful estate on a lake. Diego is anxious but thrilled, as he intends to propose to Sage. However, Sage seems to have some hidden doubts about their relationship, which become more apparent as the story unfolds. The situation becomes even more complex with the sudden and unexpected arrival of another couple.

Diego and Sage are taken aback when Will (Alex Roe) and Cin (Andra Nechita) show up. “It’s short for Cinnamon,” Cin quickly explains. The couple then reveal they’ve also reserved the rental for the weekend, creating a problem with setting the table. Unable to get in touch with the property owner and with the closest hotel over 50 miles away, they reluctantly decide to share the space for the night. This proves to be a mistake.

It didn’t take me long to spot one of the film’s biggest weaknesses. “Bone Lake” falls into the trap of revealing too much, too soon. Honestly, Will and Cin are just far too obvious right from the start. They’re openly flirting, building up lies, and manipulating Diego and Sage in ways that became genuinely frustrating to watch. It felt like so many of the problems could have been avoided with just a little bit of honest communication. Unfortunately…

Diego and Sage continually complicate things with their frustrating decisions, which advance the story but make them appear foolish. For example, Sage impulsively drives into town with the charming Will, while Diego remains at home with the alluring Cin. What could possibly go wrong? And when the main characters finally address issues they should have discussed much sooner, it’s, predictably, too late. It’s a classic trope, really.

The movie does pick up in the last 20 minutes, delivering an entertaining and bloody climax that nearly justifies sitting through the rest of it. However, before that, “Bone Lake” feels like a story we’ve seen before, borrowing elements from recent films like “Barbarian” and older ones such as Michael Haneke’s “Funny Games”. The acting is adequate, and the gore is enjoyable (though the opening scene is unnecessarily graphic). Ultimately, the film doesn’t go far enough with its craziness, resulting in a predictable and unremarkable experience. “Bone Lake” releases in theaters on October 3rd.

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2025-10-03 17:57