Bone Lake (2025) is directed by Mercedes Bryce Morgan and written by Joshua Friedlander. It stars Maddie Hasson, Alex Roe, Marco Pigossi, Andra Nechita, Clayton Spencer, and Elaine Reis. The film follows Sage (Hasson) and Diego (Pigossi), a longtime couple who set out to spend a romantic weekend at a secluded Airbnb located on Bone Lake. After another couple arrives, claiming they also booked the house, Sage and Diego eventually agree to make it a ‘couples’ weekend. Although they seem friendly at first, the new couple begins making increasingly forward sexual advances. This initially tests Sage and Diego’s relationship, but it soon becomes clear that their new roommates’ intentions go far beyond simple infidelity. As issues from their past bubble to the surface, Sage and Diego are forced to find common ground so they can not only survive the weekend, but rediscover why they love each other in the first place.

It’s clear that the four leads aren’t the cream of the crop, per se, but their performances are uncommonly energetic and fun. They often have so much chemistry that I wouldn’t have minded a non-horror version of the film where they all just kind of hang out. It’s not rare for a cast to claim they had fun making a film, but it is rare for that fun to translate to the finished product. Although the story beats are ones we’ve seen countless times before, the performances provide an X-factor that makes them feel somewhat fresh. The cast seems to recognize that the script’s sexually charged subtext is inherently humorous. For example, there’s nothing hilarious about an early scene where someone is being hunted by an assailant with a crossbow, but it’s hard not to laugh when we’re then shown a close-up of an arrow going straight through his testicles. 

This sexual edge, however, is not the only element that helps this otherwise unoriginal story feel new. Because most of the elements are extremely unoriginal and thus predictable, the few subversions that are implemented work exceptionally well. For example, I appreciated that the typical male-female dynamic between Sage and Diego is flipped on its head. This isn’t unheard of, but it’s usually just used as a lazy tool to take shots at a certain sex (males, typically) and for the 1,000th time preach to its audience that “SEE! Girls can save the day too!” News flash: The genre that coined the term ‘Final girl,’ the one that has, since its inception, featured women turning the tables and saving the day, does not need to preach to its audience that they’re indeed capable human beings. Instead, Bone Lake lets this play out naturally and agenda-free, which generally just makes it easier to believe. It’s just who these individuals are, whether or not it fits a person’s chosen views of how each sex tends to behave. These kinds of subtle genre subversions, as well as simple creative flourishes such as unexpected song choices, provide almost enough fun to make you forget about the fact that you’ve experienced this story at least two other times.

Although mostly unoriginal, I also appreciated that the ending provides a subtle hint that maybe Sage and Diego’s love wasn’t actually worth fighting for, their escape only providing a future where the two are in an endless, loveless relationship. It’s dark, but I prefer my horror endings that way. That being said, it’s subtle enough that the viewer can make their own interpretation. So if you want a happy ending, it’s more than valid to see it that way.

Overall, this is a fun, well-paced “guests from hell” horror film with a strong sense of dark humor and a cast that gives it their all. The biggest thing holding this movie back is that it borrows too many key elements from other, better horror films. Although I’ve never seen this specific combination of these elements, there’s still an overwhelming sense of familiarity. I think this will appeal to two groups: those who aren’t very familiar with the genre’s tropes and those who know them all too well. The lack of originality won’t matter if you don’t watch these films too often, and the subtle subversions will only impress you if you know the genre like the back of your hand. I imagine anyone in between will struggle to understand what’s so great about it. I personally think this is a lot of fun, but it’s not for everyone. B-