If you cut the first 2 minutes of the movie and go with the original ending, before the obvious reshoot this would be a damn near perfect film. One that I would have never guessed was an original film from an American filmmaker.
Going into this film, I had absolutely no idea what the movie was about, who was in it, who wrote, directed or even did the cinematography for it. All I knew, it was a horror film and it had been getting rather favorable reviews.
I was actually suppose to go see this film two weeks ago or so, for an advance screening a couple days before it came out but then had to cancel. To which I wasn’t overly concerned with until, I seen someone talk about how amazing the movie is. Then I was kicking myself in the ass.
So I was finally able to redeem myself when I seen that the theater by me had a screening in which I could actually make, since they only had like one screening a day since the movie has come out.
The film, as I already mentioned briefly, has an opening that not only does the film no justice, in any way, shape or form. There’s no way to describe it, other than down right dumb.
I knew going in that I was seeing a horror film. Although, I don’t see how that completely tone deaf scene had been seen as an asset to the film or story, or even necessary for that matter.
Honestly as the scene played out, my first thought was okay it’s that kind of horror movie, and by that kind I mean the disowned love child of Hatchet and Wrong Turn 3.
Then two minutes pasted and all the sudden, we’re no longer in horror movie hell . The film takes a complete 180 and stays on the path of righteousness until the last two minutes of the movie. Then just like Dirk Diggler, goes right back to the thing that almost destroyed them.
The first two and last two minutes of the film, appear to be have done after the project wrapped and the producer or the studio saw the film. Then had the idea to put there two cents in. Which as usual, is never a good thing.
The core of the film is very much a physiological horror. One that is so well crafted and simply brilliant. From the first frame after the Dawson Leery reshoots, up to the post production reshoot ending.
The performances are spot on and never miss a beat. The script is so well written. Giving us both relatable and likable characters, witty dialogue and honest to god, moments that are not only realistic but very much plausible.
Even though we have seen the whole double booked, air BnB movie already with Barbarian. This film takes a completely different approach. One that is without question is a superior version.
Delivering the scares without completely going off the deep end of tongue, cheek and chewy. Where Barbarian is very much a movie about a mythical creature created from evil. Bone Lake is very much real.
Real in the sense that the evil in the film is very much created by human hands, although mythical the killers are not. Twisted and depraved they are.
Honestly there are some very unrealistic moments in this film…. Okay, actually there is only one, but a rather big one, that can be easily forgiven, due to the culture that we currently live in. Where flash and dash overtakes real , reasonable and responsible.
The house in which they stay, is the only thing that keeps the film from feeling completely grounded and gritty. It’s called Bone Lake for a reason. The air BnB they stay in for the weekend is a huge, lake house in the middle of nowhere.
Now I’ll admit, my first thought was that’s completely unrealistic, the story opens and tells us that he quit his job as a community college professor to write full time, and she is going to cover them financially. Of course they do address the money issue.
Her saying how can they afford this place when they’re suppose to be cutting back and watching their money. Of course he says, they’ve been staying in shitty hotels for the entire trip, indicating they’ve been on long vacation. Which still begs to question the money aspect.
Which honestly makes it feel even more unrealistic. Although I will say, while writing this review, I looked at some prices for a weekend at an air BnB at a huge lake house in Maryland, and honestly it’s not that unrealistic for a weekend. $1,500 dollars isn’t nothing to snob your nose at, but it’s not at all as expense as I thought it would have been. Grounding the one thing I thought was outlandish with the film .
From the moment they get to the house, the film really takes off, more so becaue you know you’re watching a horror film and you’re waiting for something happen.
The fact that nothing really happens right away and it’s more of a slow burn, psychological horror, really adds to the intensity and overall creepiness to the film.
It doesn’t really take long to catch on, as far as whom the killers are going to be, given certain scenes. However, there was nothing preparing you for the third act twist, that feels like it came straight out of South Korea.
Overall, I absolutely love this movie, it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Intrigued, excited and invested. The film without question draws you in, making you want more.
The ending scene, like the opening scene, really doesn’t match the rest of the film. Giving this weird and off kilter feel. Never the less, for 98% of the time, the film is nothing less than damn near perfection.
Overall Rating 4.5 of 5 Stars.