It takes a lot to make this jaded movie fan’s jaw drop, but let me tell you something folks, my jaw hit the floor before the words “Bone Lake” even appeared on screen. Like, I know you can show a lot in movies nowadays, but I didn’t know you could show… THAT. Having said that, I must now say that once my jaw returned to its normal state, it did not drop again. Still, as far as attention getters go, the pre-title scene is a classic.
Sage (Maddie Hasson) and Diego (Marco Piggosi) rent a luxurious Airbnb for a romantic getaway. Much to their chagrin, another couple arrives claiming they have also booked the house. At first, Will (Alex Roe) and Cin (Andra Nichita) seem kind of chill, so Sage and Diego grudgingly let them share the spacious mansion. Eventually, the interlopers begin showing their true colors as they try to manipulate the vacationers into cheating on each other. It doesn’t take long before the couple’s “game” turns deadly.
Bone Lake is essentially a ‘90s “From Hell” thriller with a new coat of paint. And the color of the paint is Blood Red. This time, the gimmick is an Airbnb from Hell. Now, the “double booked Airbnb” is fast becoming a standard trope in Hollywood these days. Every time I see one of these things, I just think to myself, “Y’all would’ve been just fine if you stayed at a Holiday Inn instead.”
A movie like this that has limited locations and a small cast pretty much lives and dies by the acting. I’m glad to report that our core four came to play. As the uptight couple, Piggosi and Hasson kind of look like Temu versions of Pedro Pascal and Florence Pugh. They’re pretty good too. Roe and Nichita are also fun as the couple who are hiding a secret.
I already mentioned the crazy opening, but the finale is no slouch either as it contains at least two showstopping kills. Although the first and last five minutes are applause-worthy, the middle eighty minutes or so, while solid, pales in comparison as it all plays more or less like a standard thriller. It’s those bloody bookends that make it really stand out from the rest of the pack though.
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