Bone Lake wants you to dive in to its madness. Unfortunately, though, the water isn’t very deep.

Directed by Mercedes Bryce Morgan, Bone Lake tells the story of Sage and Diego, a couple that’s trying to reignite the spark in their marriage. However, when they arrive at their secluded getaway, they find out that another couple has also booked the place for the same weekend. Naturally, Sage and Diego are far from thrilled about having to share the mansion with total strangers, yet they relent. But when tensions between the four vacationers begin to erupt, a maze of sex, lies and manipulation unravel their relationships.

In Bone Lake, Morgan invites us to stay in a world of luxury, albeit with a bubbling crockpot of brutality boiling underneath. There’s a lot of fun to be had in this skewed sexual suspense. Performances are entertaining, especially Hasson and Roe who carve up the scenes with enthusiasm. The film’s tension between couples is often entertaining to watch unfold.

However, Morgan’s trip into the woods is also a bumpy ride. Despite an interesting set-up, Bone doesn’t always deliver the thrills in this thriller. As the action begins to spiral out of control, the story seems to do the same. As a result, the film creates some awkward moments that don’t feel like they fit and character motivations can be jarring.

(Though it may make you nervous about booking your next AirBnB.)

What’s more, Bone also feels like a movie that has something to say yet never fully fleshes it out. For example, one could make the argument that it’s a story about feminine pleasure. Here, Sage’s sexual needs are clearly not being met as her relationship with Diego seems to have stagnated. Although they (seem to) remain committed, there is very little connection between them, leaving her to look for other ways to find pleasure. But Sage’s pulling away obviously causes further tension with Diego, causing him to doubt whether he’s good enough for her.

In these moments, Bone Lake seems to be pushing towards some interesting conversations around modern intimacy and feminine empowerment. There’s a lot of potential to explore the film from the perspective of young men and women trying to build trust at a time of change. However, for some reason, the film seems to abandon this idea for the sake of more vicious moments.

And it’s more violent tendencies are what Bone Lake wants to pride itself on as well. This is a story that, when the blood-letting begins, does have the ability to let itself go when it wants to do so. As the situation devolves, Bone stabs, slices and smashes its way through the third act with enthusiastic aplomb. (In fact, during one fight scene, the soundtrack repeatedly espouses “sex and violence”, reminding us that this is the marker for the film’s success.)

Yet, at the same time, the film feels almost constrained in other moments. And it seems intentional. Bone Lake doesn’t want to use push its visual boundaries too far. (“It’s a little gratuitous,” Sage chastises early on.)

Don’t get me wrong. There’s a lot of fun for you to have, should you choose to visit Bone Lake. Featuring some enjoyable work by its cast, it is entertaining to watch this foursome disassemble and reassemble their relationships before our eyes. Even so, the script doesn’t match the film’s energy. As a result, Bone Lake’s waters become a little rough.

Bone Lake is available in theatres on Friday, October 3rd, 2025.