Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Stranger by the Lake Blu-ray Movie Review

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark.

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 12, 2014

“Stranger by the Lake” is mysterious, sensual, and disarmingly casual. The latest from writer/director Alain Guiraudie, the feature is a splendidly crafted effort that sneaks up on the viewer, lulling them into a state of comfort with the characters before gradually introducing elements of murder and suspicion. It works due to Guiraudie’s moviemaking control and patience, while the cast submits exceptionally interior work, projecting emotional concerns while working through the subtleties of small talk. Although it’s a repetitive film, it winds with purpose, slowly ratcheting up the tension in a confident manner that keeps the picture riveting, even when it seems to have no direction at all.

Franck (Pierre Deladonchamps) is a single man who makes daily trips to a remote lake in the French countryside. It’s a calm cruising area for local gay men, offering a nude beach and dense woods to carry out any lustful intentions. Franck has his eye on Michel (Christophe Paou), a handsome stranger who always seems to be preoccupied with his boyfriend, creating an obsessive need within Franck to acquire his fixation’s attention. Befriending outsider Henri (Patrick D’Assumcao), a lonely guy who’s working out the details of his sexual orientation, Franck finds comfort with the amiable fellow, yet when Michel’s dance card clears, he jumps at the chance, embarking on a deeply sexual relationship. While Franck would like to enjoy a more romantic union, Michel balks at the notion, with the pairing eventually tested when a dead body pops up in the lake, bringing in a Detective (Jerome Chappatte) to illuminate the secretive activities of the location.

“Stranger by the Lake” begins observationally, studying Franck’s routine as his visits the area, parks by a tree, and proceeds to survey the action at the beach, greeting friends and assessing newcomers. It’s a system of cruising that makes up the majority of the film, allowing Guiraudie to establish the serenity of the location and the idiosyncrasies of its visitors, gradually building characterization through behavior. The presence of Henri permits a healthy exchange of dialogue as Franck feels out the overweight man’s intentions near the water, probing his relationship history as a loose sense of security is created, introducing a sense of friendship at a place where human connection is largely ephemeral. Others partake in the action, including an anxious man who’s wary of unprotected sex and a voyeur who openly masturbates while others carry on in the woods. Character count is limited, but the helmer secures personality and preference with concentration, creating plausible interactions with a slight tinge of unease around Michel, who’s elusive with his feelings.

This is an explicit film, maintaining intimacy with Franck and Michel as they embark on their affair. The heat is necessary, establishing Franck’s connection to his object of obsession, experiencing the pleasures of the flesh as his heart yearns for something more substantial. It’s a fascinating fight of desires, watching the character work through frustration with his lover, which comes to be tested by the Detective, who doesn’t quite believe Franck’s declaration of innocence, forcing the young man to face the cold reality of fast and easy sex at the lake.

Suspense doesn’t funnel into the feature until the final act, and when it does arrive, it carries a precision that’s stunning to watch, sneaking up on the viewer as ritual explodes into survival. What’s even more impressive about “Stranger by the Lake” is how it generally eschews mystery, yet still preserves tension in the finale, carefully exposing true natures as the sun goes down and darkness swallows the area.

Stranger by the Lake Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Stranger by the Lake" retains the picture's naturalistic qualities with crisp definition of frame elements, making fine detail quite appealing. It's not just the parade of flesh that stands out about the viewing experience, but the clarity of beachside life, with water and wild activities emerging with satisfactory textures, helping to clarify the sense of distance the director often employs to open up the space. Colors are true, with fresh skintones and distinct greenery, while the occasional use of costuming adds some variation with bolder hues. Black levels are tested in full, with extensive evening interactions (often lit only with automobile lights) that reveal some minor crush issues, but overall stability remains communicative, preserving mystery. It's a clean image, revealing the limits of the HD cinematography, and an expressive one.

Stranger by the Lake Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 Dolby Digital sound mix provides only a lossy reach for the Blu-ray listening experience, and while there's some disappointment with the discovery, this isn't exactly an effort working with an intricate design. The primary focus remains with dialogue exchanges, isolating the calm conversations between the characters, with only a few escalations in emphasis that fail to reach any distortive highs. There's not much in the way of music, leaving the track to thick atmospherics, with sounds of wind, water, and travel by foot carrying a welcome presence and position, adding to the feature's mood and sense of suspense, with stillness valued by the mix. There's really nothing included here that pushes out into the surrounds, missing the potential for a truly immersive event, but simplicity is the star of the show, and the track respects the subtlety and slow burn mentality of the filmmaking,

Stranger by the Lake Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (16:32, HD) with Alain Guiraudie is recorded at the 2013 Melbourne Film Festival. The director is extremely prepared to chat up "Stranger by the Lake," delving into a sophisticated explanation of his moviemaking approach, with emphasis on theory, form, and inspiration. While more textured BTS anecdotes are more inviting, Guiraudie displays a rich understanding of his work, sharing his creative intent with authority in this passionate conversation that's punctuated with clips from the feature.

• Alternate Ending (9:20, HD) presents two takes that essentially extend the theatrical ending to a more defined resolution, while still preserving needed ambiguity. This is only a subtle change, but it does alter the tone of the climax, gifting the feature a more somber quality.

• Deleted Scenes (4:19, HD) supply three additional moments focusing on Franck's adventures around the lake, interacting with Henri and being chased away by other men in the area. The final scene is perhaps most important, spotlighting a discussion of protected sex between Franck and a more attentive conquest that should've remained in the picture.

• "Heroes Never Die" (13:28, SD) is a 1990 short film from Alain Guiraudie concerning the evening conversation shared between two men as they wait patiently in a town square.

• "Straight Ahead Until Morning" (10:14, SD) is a 1994 short film from Guiraudie, this time exploring on the philosophical inner monologue of a man touring a city at night.

• A U.K. Theatrical Trailer (1:35, HD) and a U.S. Theatrical Trailer (1:28, HD) are included.

Stranger by the Lake Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Stranger by the Lake" is a well-made, atmospheric picture, and while its initial moments suggests a glacial quality that might interfere with critical points of uncertainty and vulnerability, the film submits a magnificent escalation of concern and characterization that supports the entire effort. The long road to a climatic payoff is well worth the wait.