In this interview, the Bone Lake cast and director talk about the film’s thrilling, sexy vibe and why a scary Airbnb story hits so close to home.
Last year at Fantastic Fest, a little indie horror film called Bone Lake took me completely by surprise. It quickly became my favorite movie of the festival, and I’ve been championing it ever since. I was shocked it wasn’t immediately picked up for distribution, but its patience has paid off. Bone Lake has finally found a home and is arriving in theaters on October 3, where you absolutely must see it. This isn’t just another horror film; it’s a brilliant, sexy, and terrifying thrill ride that demands to be seen with an audience.
I sat down with director Mercedes Bryce Morgan and the incredibly talented cast – Maddie Hasson, Marco Pigossi, Alex Roe, and Andra Nechita – to discuss what makes Bone Lake such a unique and terrifying cinematic experience. We talked about everything from the challenges of shooting an indie film in just 18 days to the brilliant on-set chemistry that brought their characters to life, and why a horror film about an Airbnb is so relatable to modern audiences.
Bone Lake Is A Cinematic Experience Like No Other
Director Mercedes Bryce Morgan shared my excitement about the film’s theatrical release. “It feels so cool because we wanted to have just the right people supporting it,” she told me. At Fantastic Fest, the audience reactions were everything she’d hoped for – the gasps, the shouts of “Why are you doing that?!” – all confirming that the movie had found its people. “That’s what I wanted,” Morgan said. “It’s the theater-going experience.”
Both the cast and director emphasized how crucial the communal experience is to the film. As Alex Roe noted, seeing it with a crowd is a “different movie.” The collective energy of people reacting together to the film’s wild and absurd moments creates an electric atmosphere. Marco Pigossi suggested it’s the perfect first date movie. “You’re just like, ‘What would you do in that situation?’ And boom, you got an answer.” he joked.
Weaving In The Terror Of The Modern World
Bone Lake taps into a very specific, modern fear: the vulnerability of staying in an Airbnb. Both the cast and director agreed that the inherent discomfort of being in a stranger’s home – surrounded by their personal belongings and pictures – is a terrifying premise.
“You’re staying in somebody else’s home, you know?” Alex Roe said. “There’s this element where you’re already like, ‘Am I supposed to be here?’” Andra Nechita added that the concept is so effective because “most people have stayed at an Airbnb at some point,” making the fear incredibly relatable. Mercedes Bryce Morgan pointed out that she’s heard the film compared to Barbarian, which also plays on this theme, and she proudly declared Bone Lake its “hornier sibling.”
When asked what she would do if she showed up to an Airbnb with another couple already there, Morgan joked, “I think I would become friends with them and find out all their deepest, darkest secrets because I would maybe want to mess with them too.” The cast, however, had a more practical and self-preserving response. “Goodbye!” said Marco Pigossi. “I’m great at running,” Maddie Hasson added.
Blending Horror, Sex, & Laughs
One of the film’s most striking elements is its seamless blend of humor, eroticism, and pure horror. It’s a combination that works because, as Mercedes Bryce Morgan explained, sex and violence are closely linked in our psyche. The film leans into the absurdity and camp, creating a “very campy and silly and ridiculous” tone while still grounding it in a character you feel for. Morgan wanted a cast that could handle this delicate balance. She praised her lead actors, Maddie Hasson and Marco Pigossi, for their ability to bring a grounded quality, and Alex Roe and Andra Nechita for their knack for “having this fun, sexy vibe, but then just kind of get really big with it.”
The cast also praised the director, noting her clear vision, even with a hectic shooting schedule of just 18 days. The fight choreography, which Andra Nechita had to meticulously rehearse, paid off in tense, climactic scenes. The director also revealed that the intense boat fight scene at the end of the film was something she dreaded but ultimately felt a sense of relief when they “nailed it.” She even mentioned that there are five alternate endings that were filmed and tested before she ultimately decided on the right one.
The Power of Indie Film and Community
The director and cast were genuinely touched by the film’s grassroots support, including my own personal mission to get people to see it at Fantastic Fest. “We are an indie movie through and through,” Mercedes Bryce Morgan said. “And so the way that that happens is we have people who love it share word of mouth. And so that just really means a lot.” It’s clear the film was a labor of love for everyone involved. Maddie Hasson, who can’t swim, even took lessons for a “wild” water scene. Just wait until you see it.
For more Bone Lake behind-the-scenes details, watch the video of my full interview with the cast and director.
NEXT: Bone Lake Review: Dark, Sexy, Bloody, & Unforgettable
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.
