Movies You Need To See: The French Erotic Thriller “Stranger by the Lake” at SIFF Cinema

Christophe Paou and Pierre de Ladonchamps star in the zexy French thriller STRANGER BY THE LAKE now playing at SIFF Cinema at the Uptown.

It was a film that divided audiences at last fall’s Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival…the French gay thriller L’inconnu du lac, aka “Stranger by the Lake” from acclaimed director Alain Guiraudie had audiences raving and/or rioting. Some loved the moody and highly explicit film about some mysterious shenanigans at a lakeside gay men’s cruising beach that features murder and full frontal nudity and penetrative sex scenes. Others were irritated by the pace and the narrow mise en scène that never leaves the beach/woods setting, and by the odd behavior of some of the characters that seemed to indicate that when it comes to sexual passion, gay men are likely to make very poor choices.

Regardless, we think it’s a film you should check out. (Note: I both adored the film and despised its ending; go see it and let me know what YOU think….) It’s been nationally released and STRANGER BY THE LAKE is currently playing at SIFF Cinema At The Uptown. Grab your tickets over here. The film will be running through at least Thursday, March 13 but check local listings before you head out!

Here’s the zexy steamy trailer that is sadly missing all the genitals you’ll see in the film: