Stranger by the Lake

HitchCOCKian

i think this movie should be considered as a classical tragedy, where the protagonist (here, ironically named "Frank") follows his appetites which is against his fate and is punished therefore. It also takes place in one place at one time and with same actors like the Aristotalean principle. In Greek tragedy even women were acted by men, hence there is no woman in the movie. Despite the dull images a strong movie through its references and ethical questions it demands...

a new genre is born: "murder-mystery-art house-gay-porn"

A restrained (downright Bressonian in its simplicity, as a matter of fact), chilly yet provocative and very graphic homoerotic thriller that sets itself in a dark zone where mortal fear and raw, carnal passion become dangerously intertwined. It examines some dark and honest places that most films dare not go, but to me the film lumbers along a bit too slowly to match the content. In other words it's fascinating but the filmmaking itself isn't bold enough for my liking.

What an odd movie. I mean, it's not a bad movie nor is it a good movie. The pacing is pretty slow and although the end is pretty tense and well done, I just feel like it isn't really worth it.

It's gay porn. Apparently it's also a thriller, I turned off during one of many scenes of a man spunking.

Fine, but I would prefer that Chabrol stay dead, please.

The best gay-porn-thriller-comedy I have ever seen. By far...

Maybe not all that unfamiliar, I mean it's an arty slow-paced mystery (traces of Vertigo, surely) that seemingly goes nowhere until it boils over at the final moments. To Guiraudie's credit, he doesn't shove his aspirations down your throat (like say, Dumont) and the whole thing unfolds rather naturally. You could say it feels "unassuming" but that's like, the perfect tone for a mystery.

A nice quiet little film until the inevitable ending. The transient nature of the beach makes the plot/suspense feel thin (but not in a bad way). Wish we heard more philosophical ramblings from the guy on the beach. Surely lots to uncover about the characters' motivations if you read between the lines closely enough.

I was worried that the hotness of Deladonchamps/Paou was a large part of my enjoyment of the film but, trust me, it has other merits as well. The 'graphic' sex scenes are refreshing but hardly the point at all -they are totally natural, just like any other scene. What's far more interesting is the understated tension (a pure thriller, this film is, with not a jump-scare at sight). Any of the three main characters could be the titluar stranger, but that's what makes them fascinating.

Atmosphere is everything

Somehow I had gotten it into my head that this was a Sorrentino movie - the visuals didn't quite live up to my expectations... (Also, turns out there is one genre I am even less interested in than thrillers - gay thrillers.)

Reworks classic elements of Hitchcock's work into a low-key study of the allure and the danger of lust. A very sparse and exceptionally well-directed film. I love that the film's murder scenes are shot with the carefully-lit beauty of a romantic encounter, while the sex scenes are conveyed in a blunt, lurid and deadly manner like a typical murder scene.

Tense, original, involving, rich, sad... Did I say tense? Well, it is.

Sexy, sensual, and quietly suspenseful. Yes, the sex is indeed explicit, but it takes the back seat to the story at hand. Gorgeously filmed and almost hypnotic. Stranger By The Lake is a near masterpiece of gay cinema. For adults only.

seethruskin's review covers it

drags a bit in the middle, but it works as a psycho-thrilling set piece. also interesting to check your homophobia level before during and after the movie

Great performance by Patrick d'Assumçao and some atmosphere but the leads are rather wooden and the endless longshots are a little repetitive. To its credit it doesn't overstay its welcome but more intriguing than truly gripping. And for such a supposedly popular summer hangout, it looks really cold and about to rain all the time.

Guiraudie works in the light of the day and in the darkness of the night -- in scenes we can barely any see anything, but only hear the noise from the woods and the breathing of the characters --, creating shots that develop in a convoluting, confusing but dramatically rewarding midst feeling of desire and fear to be in company of a dangerous and sensual person. For those who love -- despite of risking their lives --, pleasure also means flirting with death.

great example of architecture of sex with the spaces layed out with specific purposes, a character in film is even underlining the boardes of spaces "the cruising area starts there with the tree". power works like this, sex is hidden so it would be exciting, it would be boring not to hide. and there is also like a murder or something

I keep thinking about this film, even after 5 years. It really struck me at that time and Christophe Paou's physicality in the role, like a murderous, menacing yet irresistible panther. (I interviewed Paou and he was so relaxed and chill in real life that this feat of acting is even more impressive).

Hypnotic and bold with strong characters

Not for the squeamish, but if you can get past the occasional scenes of explicit gayness, you're in for an interesting arthouse thriller.

Ocak '14 &

A very slow build up to the tense ending. Good contrasts in the film between light and dark but too explicitly gay for me.

Well, at least now i know how gay guys probably feel when they watch Twentynine Palms...

A skillful Hitchcockian thriller weakened by a slack tempo--which, admittedly, does give one ample opportunity to admire the gorgeous cinematography and sound--and some unnecessary/distracting/gratuitous explicit sex. An ending would have been nice.

A slow paced movie with a somewhat obvious premise at first, but sufficient charm in its execution and an interesting commentary on the nihilism that is common among many gay men. I liked the "secondary" characters - Henri and the inspector - a lot, to the point that I think that the highlights of the movie are the scenes involving these two.

Okay, so Michel = AIDS, right?

Builds a wonderfully beguiling atmosphere, every frame shot through with a dark, threatening sexuality, but it's too distant to connect on the level of a truly fantastic movie.

Guiraudie executes expertly L'Inconnu Du Lac. He manages to keep the tension at the perfect level throughout the film: never over stating it, but just enough to let it simmer in the back of the viewer's mind. The whole film hearkens back to the suspense films of Hitchcock. With its paradise like locale and naturalistic performances, Guiraudie explores both homosocial and homosexual relationships and explores the connection between life, death, and sex.

So dark. Reminded me of Chabrol's 'small themed' thrillers like Les Bonnes Femmes. Such an eerie atmosphere.