My quick rating – 5.1/10. Their marketing fooled me into thinking I was getting a slasher. The Bone Lake trailer promises blood, mystery, and a killer lurking in the woods, but what we actually get is a darkly seductive psychological thriller with some laughs, a few drops of gore, and a bit of naked manipulation. The setup sounds promising: a couple’s romantic getaway at a secluded lakeside mansion turns into an uncomfortable double date from hell when another attractive pair shows up with their own twisted agenda. What follows is less Jason Voorhees and more “Basic Instinct meets a B-grade Netflix thriller.”
The movie opens strong with a brutal and misleading scene — a naked couple being hunted through the forest by a crossbow-wielding killer. It’s the kind of cold open that made me think, “Alright, we’re in for a ride.” Too bad that’s the last time the movie even flirts with horror. After that, it shifts gears into an erotic mind game between two couples. Diego (Marco Pigossi) and Sage (Maddie Hasson) are your average vacationing duo, while Will (Alex Roe) and Cin (Andra Nechita) are clearly the wildcards. Within minutes, Will and Cin’s manipulative energy takes over the film, though it’s hard to imagine why Diego and Sage don’t just pack up and leave.
The cast performance is uneven, with Nechita standing out as the only one who seems comfortable in her role. Roe tries to be the enigmatic bad boy but mostly just looks like he’s reading from a cold script. Pigossi and Hasson, meanwhile, give flat, reactive performances that don’t sell the tension or fear the story demands.
Despite the psychological tension it’s trying to build, Bone Lake spends most of its runtime simmering without ever boiling over. The dialogue and acting start off awkward, even the sex scenes feel rehearsed, but things smooth out slightly as the movie leans into its psychological manipulation. Still, it’s never suspenseful or genuinely sexy enough to work as either a thriller or an erotic drama. You keep waiting for the kills to ramp up, but the film takes its sweet time, teasing instead of delivering. When the violence finally arrives, the blood and brutality are done well enough, but by then it’s too little, too late.
By the end, it’s just another “crazy couple manipulates naive guests” thriller with predictable twists and a few moments of bloodshed tossed in as decoration. The setting is atmospheric, and there’s a hint of potential in its early scenes, but Bone Lake never finds its rhythm. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a lukewarm bath — pleasant for a minute, then just dull.
A case of clever marketing making my Shocktober list under false pretenses. If you came for the slasher it promised, you’ll leave disappointed. If you’re in the mood for a mildly steamy thriller that thinks it’s more shocking than it is, Bone Lake might float your boat.
