‘Bone Lake’ Review: A Fun Thriller That Can’t Quite Live Up to Its Steamy Promises

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Marketing that leans into sexuality can be effective. Halina Reijn’s Babygirl cleverly presented a glass of milk as surprisingly sensual, and Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn ultimately embraced the attention surrounding a provocative scene involving Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi. Now, director Mercedes Bryce Morgan and writer Joshua Friedlander’s Bone Lake tries a similar tactic: promotional materials include an image of co-star Andra Nechita looking ecstatic while partially underwater amongst human skulls, and another showing a punctured and bloodied inflatable sex doll with a knife through its mouth. In a time when onscreen intimacy seems to be decreasing, any bold and shocking display of sensuality is a plus. However, it’s strange that the film itself doesn’t actually feature much, well, sex. It certainly hints at it, doesn’t it?

Bone Lake tells the story of Sage (Maddie Hasson) and Diego (Marco Pigossi) who go to a secluded mansion for a romantic getaway. Diego recently quit his job as a community college professor to pursue writing full-time. The movie begins with a scene from his novel-a graphic depiction of a naked couple fleeing through the woods, the man shot in the groin and the woman wounded by a splintered log. Sage cautiously calls the passage “really interesting” but admits it feels unnecessarily violent, which makes Diego feel insecure. Sage is the primary earner in their relationship-a clear and early indication of a shift in traditional gender roles during their weekend retreat.

Okay, so things get really weird in Barbarian. Just when you think it can’t get any stranger, another seemingly normal couple in their thirties shows up, claiming they *also* have a reservation for the same huge house. This new couple, Cin (Andra Nechita) and Will (Alex Roe), even have the front door code! So, naturally, these four attractive people decide to share the lakefront house. But, spoiler alert: things aren’t what they seem. The atmosphere quickly becomes tense as dangerous mind games, manipulation, and even attempts at seduction start to play out between them. And if that wasn’t enough, Will casually mentions a local legend about a serial killer who used to dump bodies in the lake… leading to skeletons washing up on shore. Talk about adding fuel to the fire!

Bone Lake employs elements commonly found in games-even showing provocative imagery like pornographic chess pieces-and focuses on how crucial trust and honesty are in relationships. These ideas appear throughout the 94-minute film, but with mixed results. The film’s thoughtful look at sexual dynamics and the way people present themselves based on gender is more captivating than the limited intimate scenes, which don’t fully delve into the complexities of gender identity and desire. Bone Lake feels like a story with potential that ultimately falls short of expectations.

A Horny Popcorn Horror That Desperately Wants to Tackle Taboos


Bleecker Street

The story deserves credit for honestly portraying the imbalance of pleasure between men and women. In one of two brief sex scenes, we see Sage taking the lead with her very enthusiastic boyfriend, even pretending to reach orgasm when he says he’s about to. The reason? Sage is secretly bothered by the fact that she’s now the primary earner, which unexpectedly creates an imbalance of power and enjoyment during sex. Despite Diego being a caring and affectionate partner, she struggles to talk to him about it. We find out she had previously suggested they try sex toys, but he wasn’t open to the idea. This disagreement led Sage, who was then a freelance journalist, to write an award-winning article about their common bedroom problems, ultimately adding strain to their relationship. This highlights the irony of her success creating further distance.

The highly charged relationship between Cin and Will intensifies the feelings of insecurity for Sage and Diego. The situation becomes even more awkward when Cin, wrapped only in a towel, can’t find her glasses and playfully asks Diego to search through her luggage for clothes. Then, Will brazenly showers nude outdoors, deliberately provoking Sage, who is feeling unfulfilled and physically frustrated. The four of them even decide it would be fun to break into the locked rooms on the estate (using a meat tenderizer, no less!), and discover one is a dungeon reminiscent of Fifty Shades of Grey. The chains, swings, and other implements make Sage and Diego uncomfortable, and everything starts to feel a little too planned. Are they being deliberately tested? If so, by whom, and for what reason?

Bone Lake is a visually striking and over-the-top film, with images that are sometimes confusing (the scene with the house’s Ouija board is particularly strange) but always intriguing. At times, simply watching attractive women share intimate moments (like in Wild Things) and being surprised by unexpected plot twists-which Bone Lake delivers-is enough. While an initial twist is somewhat obvious, the film later takes a bold risk, addressing a sensitive topic with courage, though perhaps lacking nuance. In the end, strong acting-especially from Hasson, who bears a resemblance to the talented Florence Pugh-a beautiful location, and a violent climax make Bone Lake a fun and engaging experience. It’s a great choice for a date night, and feel free to interpret that statement however you like.

From Bleecker Street, Bone Lake opens in theaters on October 3rd.

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2025-10-03 23:03