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Stranger by the Lake

Play trailer Poster for Stranger by the Lake 2013 1h 37m Drama LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 104 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Franck falls in love with Michel, an attractive, potent and lethally dangerous man.
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Stranger by the Lake

Stranger by the Lake

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Critics Consensus

Sexy, smart, and darkly humorous, Stranger by the Lake offers rewarding viewing for adult filmgoers in search of thought-provoking drama.

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Critics Reviews

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Tirdad Derakhshani Philadelphia Inquirer 03/14/2014
3.5/4
A stunning minimalist erotic thriller that explores with arresting photography and economical use of dialogue how human identity is defined, and sometimes imprisoned, by our desires, drives, and passions. Go to Full Review
John Hartl Seattle Times 03/06/2014
3.5/4
Carefully and often brilliantly creates its own Eden-like universe. Go to Full Review
Stephanie Merry Washington Post 03/06/2014
3/4
What sets the engrossing "Stranger by the Lake" apart is that its excesses seem to point to a moral purpose beyond shock or entertainment value. Go to Full Review
Bryce Hanson Horror Movie Talk Sep 23
7/10
It is an engaging thriller, but calling it a horror movie is being pretty generous with the genre. The last 10 mins or so could be considered horror, but the bulk of the film is mostly drama. By drama, I mean explicit, unsimulated gay sex. Go to Full Review
Brandon Judell Brandon Judell (Medium) Apr 12
8/10
The film changed my life. I immediately stopped dating LGBTQI+ serial killers after viewing it. Go to Full Review
Ezequiel Obregón EscribiendoCine Apr 10
10/10
Stranger by the Lake is not only a provocative exploration of male desire, but also a profoundly human portrait of loneliness, love, contemplation, and threat... A true masterpiece of contemporary cinema. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Garry A @heavyg May 10 I've seen this twice now. There isn't alot of dialog and there is a significant amount of time where nothing is really happening. Yet, I found it memorizing. See more Michael F @Mikef62 Mar 15 Very slow and boring with no real story apart from men cruising until 1 gets murdered. No real repercussions. Very lacking in cinematography and story until the last 5 minutes. Story could have been told in half an hour. Only positive is the real sexual imagery which the story was about in the 1st place. Reviewing 12 years after the fact so probably irrelevant but wouldn't sit through again 😔 See more 11/13/2024 Absolutely hated it. I only watched to the end to see if the ending had a surprise twist that may redem this awful film. The end itself was a ridiculous non ending. It's like the film maker couldn't be bothered and just quit and I can't blame them. Easily one of the worst movies I've ever seen. See more vuesguk 10/13/2023 I don't like it.....This movie was disappointing See more PridePosterStudios 09/20/2023 If there was a lifeguard in this film he could have waved all the red flags See more Mike H @mikeho247 08/26/2023 Beautiful cinematography for a porn flick. Oh yeah, there's a lame murder thrown in as a subplot. See more Read all reviews
Stranger by the Lake

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Movie Info

Synopsis Franck falls in love with Michel, an attractive, potent and lethally dangerous man.
Director
Alain Guiraudie
Producer
Sylvie Pialat, Benoît Quainon
Screenwriter
Alain Guiraudie
Production Co
M141 Productions, arte France Cinéma, Films de Force Majeure, Les Films du Worso
Genre
Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 26, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$324.9K
Runtime
1h 37m
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