Attempting to revive their love life, Sage (Maddie Hasson) and Diego (Marco Pigossi) are travelling across the country, renting a series of Airbnbs. Sage has recently taken on a job as an editor to support Diego, who has quit his teaching role to work on a novel. Their latest rental is a sprawling luxury mansion, which they can’t believe their luck to have secured. His plans to have a sexy time and propose to Sage are foiled when another couple, Cin (Andra Nechita) and Will (Alex Roe), arrive, claiming to have also booked there. Deciding to bite the bullet for the weekend and share the space, Diego and Sage soon find that Will and Cin have a much more playful nature than they do.
The scenario for Mercedes Bryce Morgan’s film may seem familiar, but it goes on some radically different tangents. It’s well acted, even though there’s not a really likeable character between the four players. The film succeeds in constantly keeping the viewer on edge as to which direction things will go. While some are predictable initially, there are some startling surprises as things progress. Morgan isn’t afraid to push the envelope sexually, with her characters being a mix of frustrated and hedonistic, each having their own issues to deal with. The results are often very sensual and deliberately awkward.
It plays in the same ballpark as Speak No Evil, with the alpha couple exerting a powerful influence over the uncertain, struggling pair. Like that film, social etiquette is questioned, exploited and manipulated in a truly uncomfortable manner. Joshua Friedlander’s script fleshes things out, giving the actors and Morgan plenty to work with. The story continually reveals more layers that, while some are not wholly original, keep things interesting.
BONE LAKE screened at Fantastic Fest.
