Bone Lake

I got to see this in a special screen unseen and it reminded me of a very watered-down version of fifty shades of Gray with a touch of Friday the 13th. It started out. Really cool in the first 5 minutes but then it just droned on with very predictable storylines and subpar acting.

If you're looking for a splatter fest or an intelligent horror thriller then this isn't the lake for you.

Bone Lake is one of those films that looks and feels like it's about to go somewhere dark and thrilling but never quite dives all the way in. Directed by Mercedes Bryce Morgan and written by Joshua Friedlander, this indie horror-thriller premiered at Fantastic Fest in 2024 before making its wide release in October 2025. It's stylish, atmospheric, and well-acted, but it also feels a bit too restrained for its own good.

The story follows Sage (Maddie Hasson) and Diego (Alex Roe), a couple looking to rekindle their relationship during a romantic escape to the secluded Bone Lake. Their peaceful retreat turns complicated when they're forced to share a lavish mansion with another couple... Will (Marco Pigossi) and Cin (Andra Nechita) whose charm quickly slides into something much more sinister. What begins as a slightly awkward double date turns into a tense mind game where trust, temptation, and truth blur together.

The marketing for Bone Lake sells it as an erotic thriller, but aside from the provocative opening scene-which features a moment that will make most men instinctively cross their legs-the "erotic" aspect is surprisingly mild. After that opening, the film shifts gears into something closer to a psychological relationship test than a steamy thriller. The tension simmers but never boils, and while there's a constant sense that something is off, it rarely hits that nerve jangling level you want from a film like this.

That's not to say it's a bad movie far from it. Maddie Hasson and Alex Roe give strong, grounded performances, and Andra Nechita and Marco Pigossi bring an unsettling energy that keeps things interesting. Mercedes Bryce Morgan's direction is confident, with moody cinematography that captures both the beauty and unease of isolation. You can feel the influence of films like Speak No Evil and The Rental, where the horror comes more from social discomfort and suspicion than gore or jump scares.

Still, Bone Lake feels a bit too safe. The film teases danger, seduction, and psychological warfare, but often pulls back right when it's about to get good. It's an "almost" movie-almost erotic, almost scary, almost profound. What's left is a decent watch that scratches the surface of deeper, darker ideas without ever taking the plunge.

With so many slasher films around, you have to make a bit of an effort, but this took over an hour to get to any action. Compared to Companion, Maleficent, and a few others, it was lacking in all slasher expectations, such as a high body count, intense gore, and a faster pace. The leads did a good job, but I started to notice the pace was slow and checked my watch a few times. Not a bad film, just overly long and not even trying for originality. Lots of people are putting the score at a 7, for me it's a 5.

I wasnt going to leave a review because lt was S0 BAD.... But l notice big names and people promiting to go see lt 🤣 cIearly, you are doing this movie a huge favor by giving lt a good review...this ls a movie you find at goodwiII or for free at a yardsale....this ls a movie that ls bound to fIop...this ls a movie that you do not want to see twice 🤣 from the acting, to the plot, to the ending...lts just so bad...definitely made within 2 weeks....l warn you, lf you go see lt, you wiII realize just how awfuI lt ls...the opening was cool, then the rest of the fiIm has nothing eIse to offer...this was a step beIow P*RN0.

This movie was the definition of meh!

The plot was thin and unbelievable. The twist at the end was unrealistic and annoying.

There were only four actors, Maddie Hasson was the most likable and realistic. Alex Roe played his role well. The other two were not convincing.

The cinematography and editing were passable, but nothing stood out as risk-taking.

The whole ending was unrealistic.

Give it a go once if you are bored and there is literally nothing else on.