The Stream: Characters always make frustratingly dumb decisions in these movies.

The Big Screen: A very attractive cast and a creepy, mysterious setting.

The Final Bill: This thriller has its moments and uses its sexy cast to draw you in.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Mercedes Bryce Morgan
Writers: Joshua Friedlander
Stars: Marco Pigossi, Maddie Hasson, Alex Roe, Andra Nechita
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Rating: R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, sexual content, graphic nudity, language throughout and some drug use.
Runtime: 1 hour 31 minutes
Production Companies: LD Entertainment, Bleecker Street Media
Platform: In theaters October 3, 2025
Notable Trailers: Is This Thing On?, Black Phone 2, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Fackham Hall

What’s up, Streamers! Yeah, it’s officially Halloween season, so expect movie theaters to be brimming with horror movies. However, it seems the definition of horror movie gets looser with every passing year. For instance, this week’s release, Bone Lake, is more erotic thriller with some horror elements rather than a horror movie per se. In Bone Lake, Sage (Maddie Hasson) and Diego (Marco Pigossi) are settling in at a secluded mansion they rented for a romantic getaway when Will (Alex Roe) and Cin (Andra Nechita) arrive claiming they’ve rented the location as well. The couples decide to share the lodging unless things get weird. If things don’t get weird, then there’s no movie- thus, sexy hijinks ensue.

Bone Lake is a quintessential horror movie about a group of pretty people stuck in the middle of nowhere. It also has the same foundation as Barbarian did (i.e. the mix up at an Airbnb), but it lacks the clever twists and gonzo elements to make it really memorable. It starts intriguing enough with a beautiful yet ominous location and four attractive actors, and you know where this is going to go. The tension builds pretty steadily as the movie goes along, and the audience and the characters begin to question what’s really going on in this house. Unsettling things occur as one might expect from a movie like this; but, the characters make one too many very dumb decisions to be believable. It’s difficult to remain invested and root for protagonists that allow themselves to get caught in these situations. While there are twists and reveals here, the major twists are pretty obvious. The cast is attractive enough to distract from the otherwise basic nature of this horror/thriller.

Ultimately, Bone Lake is an okay movie that uses its attractive cast well, but the horror and thriller elements are pretty basic. The plot has been done before, and the twists are predictable. Movie poster is more intriguing than the movie itself. While it’s an entertaining movie, it is not a must-see; so I can only recommend a handful of popcorn.