A couple’s romantic vacation at a secluded lakeside estate is upended when they are forced to share the mansion with a mysterious and attractive couple. In this darkly hilarious and seductive horror story, a dream getaway spirals into a nightmarish maze of sex, lies, and manipulation, bringing terrifying secrets to light and triggering a bloody battle for survival.
With Bone Lake, Mercedes Bryce Morgan offers a sexual thriller that places the solidity of the modern couple at the heart of the story.
Trust within the Couple
The premise is not new. After all, banking on a past infidelity within a couple and then pitting them against villains to question how much a partner can be fully trusted after being cheated on is not very original.
(Maddie Hasson) and Diego (Marco Pigossi)
But the theme is wrapped in pleasant moments, including the opening scene which holds great promise. The atmosphere is quickly set as the vacationing couple finds themselves having to cohabitate with a somewhat strange and overwhelming couple. Obviously, this couple will call into question the mutual trust between Sage (Maddie Hasson) and Diego (Marco Pigossi) as sexual advances ensue.
That is where part of the film’s suspense lies. Will the couple resist the advances, and will they be able to believe each other? Naturally, for the suspense to work, we quickly learn that the couple has problems and that this weekend was supposed to give them a touch of magic again.
Promises
I said the opening scene offered great promises. Unfortunately, those promises are not truly fulfilled. We assume there will be sex and blood aplenty, but ultimately we are left wanting, as there is neither—or very little…
Cinnamon (Andra Nechita) | Credit: Bleecker Street and LD Entertainment
Despite everything, Bone Lake remains good entertainment. The elements of suspense are well established and keep the viewer in suspense. The duo Maddie Hasson/Marco Pigossi works well on screen. Every moment together seems fraught with discomfort, and every moment they are separated is filled with suspense. Will they cheat? Yes? No?
If the direction had been a little less prudish, we would have a good erotic thriller.
A little more…
Sometimes, one can be satisfied with simple entertainment. If that’s what you’re looking for, you will probably enjoy Bone Lake. Personally, I liked this hour and a half spent in the company of these four characters.
The film is conceived as a closed-room drama (huis clos), which often succeeds in raising the viewer’s tension. No, we don’t like closed spaces from which we can’t really escape.
In any case, I come out of this viewing with a positive memory. The opening scene will surely stick in my mind
