It’s hard not to have preconceived notions about a movie called Bone Lake. Even the characters are fully aware of that suggestive title. Nevertheless, director Mercedes Bryce Morgan (A Spoonful of Sugar) and writer Joshua Friedlander don’t shy away from the sordid potential of their collaboration; there is sexy and dangerous amusement to be had here as two couples meet for the first time in this four-handed erotic thriller.
Bone Lake is described as a “lurid Lifetime movie”, which is accurate. Of course, and in all honesty, this is a more worthwhile and better made piece of modern exploitation. First off: there is little doubt in anyone’s mind that the setup is anything but innocent. Two young and attractive couples just happen to reserve the same rental property at the same time? Understandably the situation should seem fishy to anyone who has an iota of experience with these kinds of thrillers. Even so, playing along is never taxing because Bone Lake knows fully well its audience is distrustful from the get-go. And knowing something sinister is in store doesn’t break up the party.
This is, for the most part, a single-location movie. Once Marco Pigossi and Maddie Hasson show up at their characters’ getaway locale and then decide to share it with these charming, sexy strangers — ones played persuasively by Alex Roe and Andra Nechita — the story is confined to this idyllic but ominous mansion. Admittedly this is soaked in a been-there-done-that sort of atmosphere, however, the story ultimately takes a turn (and a good one at that). Bone Lake feeds into expectations without being too predictable or, even worse, humdrum.
What helps this movie a lot is its cast. The characters never quite break out of their ready-made molds — the struggling writer, the pent-up partner, the temptress, and so forth — but there is an edge to them that makes their survival more compelling. Diego (Pigossi) and Sage (Hasson) are already walking a tightrope before Roe and Nechita’s characters Will and Cin show up; their self-devouring tension makes it easier to forgive their obliviousness to this other couple who practically screams “shady”. The disregard is rather humorous, especially in scenes where the suspect actions are damn obvious. For those less merciful toward such inattention by the would-be victims, though, everything changes before the third act.
As for Will and Cin, their characters aren’t afforded the same depth as their holiday companions. The movie is instead more invested in their actions than their logic. There is a marginal attempt to expose and study their rationale, but that’s never as delicious as their deceptive activities and whatnot. Roe and Nechita bring out the color of this entertainingly sleazy script, and without them, Bone Lake would struggle to stay afloat.
This is never a movie with unforeseeable plot twists. Look elsewhere for something more innovative and less conspicuous if that’s the desire. On the contrary, Bone Lake understands exactly what type of movie it is, and once that self-realization is out of the way, then the real fun begins.
Bone Lake had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2024.
Tales from the Paulside 
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