Critique of the gay thriller Autour du lac (Birder in the original version)
Critique of the gay thriller Autour du lac (Birder in the original version) by Nate Dushku with the feverish Michael Emery. An independent film that evokes L’inconnu du lac.
A dark and singular atmosphere
It is a small film obviously made with few resources but which has a very dark and singular atmosphere that makes it leave its mark. Autour du lac is a bit like if L’inconnu du lac was filmed from the point of view of the killer.
A potential serial killer
The film does not make a mystery: from the start we understand that its main character, Kristian (Michael Emery), an ornithologist who will spend a few days in a naturist camp around an isolated lake in New Hampshire, is twisted. We will finally understand that he is a real potential serial killer and the deaths may accumulate at the camp where he will stay.
Eroticism and danger
Kristian has understood how to attract his gay prey into his nets: he has built himself a muscular body that he proudly displays, he masters cerebral domination, knows how to play verbally to tease those around him. And more than ever here the little death will be linked to the real death in disturbing scenes that mix furious and gently kinky eroticism and great danger.
A singular gay thriller
If gay cruising has already inspired the gay thriller genre several times and for once this film by Nate Dushku does not particularly shine by its formal audacity, it nevertheless has its own personality. The whole is unpretentious, modest, well executed and can count on the charm of its main actor who manages to fascinate and disturb more and more as the film progresses. We desire him and he terrifies us at the same time.
While the naturist camp at first glance presents itself as a hedonistic, liberating, open space, it will become a crime scene but also reflect the loneliness, insecurities, doubts, of gays less happy than they think. The gay hunt of bodies mixes with a fatal hunt and Autour du lac counts among its qualities an unpredictable side that keeps you on edge until its last scene. The uncompromising darkness of the project and its cerebral erotic thriller side make it a beautiful curiosity.
Practical information
Film produced in 2023. Available on VOD and on Queerscreen.
Comments
I found the comparison between Autour du lac and L’inconnu du lac interesting, especially the idea of focusing on the killer’s perspective. The description of Kristian’s manipulative tactics and the tension between eroticism and danger gives the story an unsettling edge, which I think suits the film’s atmosphere.
I found the idea of exploring the story from the killer's perspective really intriguing, especially with Kristian's complex personality as an ornithologist turned potential serial killer. The mix of eroticism and danger you described seems to add a tense layer to the film's atmosphere.
I was intrigued by the comparison to L’inconnu du lac, especially since Autour du lac seems to flip the perspective by following the killer rather than the victims. The way the film plays with eroticism and danger through Kristian’s character sounds unsettling but compelling.
I found the idea of seeing the story from the killer's perspective really intriguing, especially with Kristian’s calculated way of drawing people in. The blend of eroticism and danger seems to create a tense, unsettling atmosphere that’s not easy to pull off in a low-budget film.
I like how you pointed out the film's perspective shift, comparing it to L’inconnu du lac but from the killer’s point of view. The mention of Kristian’s methods—especially the mix of physicality and verbal manipulation—makes him sound especially unsettling as a character.
I find it interesting that the film chooses to reveal Kristian's twisted nature right from the start rather than building suspense. The description of how he uses his physicality and cerebral domination to lure his victims adds a disturbing layer to the atmosphere. It seems like the parallels with L’inconnu du lac are pretty intentional.
I found it interesting how you compared Autour du lac to L’inconnu du lac, especially the idea of narrating from the killer’s perspective. The mention of Kristian’s mix of cerebral dominance and physical allure makes the atmosphere sound pretty unsettling.
I found the idea of exploring the story from the killer's perspective really intriguing, especially since it adds a different layer to the usual thriller narrative. The setting at the naturist camp seems like a unique backdrop that adds to the film's eerie vibe. It seems like a chilling combination of suspense and subtle character study.
I appreciate how you pointed out that the film doesn’t really hide Kristian’s twisted nature from the start. The comparison to L’inconnu du lac but from the killer’s perspective makes me even more curious about the atmosphere and how it balances eroticism with danger.
I found the idea of seeing the story from the killer's perspective really intriguing, especially since it adds a unique twist to the typical thriller narrative. The way Kristian uses both physical presence and psychological control makes the character quite unsettling but compelling.
I was intrigued by how the film flips the perspective to the killer’s point of view, similar to L’inconnu du lac but with its own unsettling vibe. The description of Kristian using both physical appeal and cerebral manipulation to lure his victims adds a disturbing complexity to his character.
I found your comparison to L’inconnu du lac really interesting, especially the idea of showing things from the killer’s perspective. The way you described Kristian’s mix of cerebral dominance and physical presence makes him sound unnerving and complex.
I found the comparison to L’inconnu du lac interesting, especially the idea of shifting the perspective to the killer. The description of Kristian using both his physicality and psychological tactics adds a layer of tension that seems to set this film apart from other thrillers.
I found the comparison to L’inconnu du lac intriguing, especially how this film shifts the perspective to the potential killer. The way Kristian uses both physical presence and psychological manipulation to lure people made the plot feel really intense and unsettling.
I was intrigued by how the review highlights the film's singular atmosphere, especially with Kristian’s twisted character and his manipulative tactics. It seems like the focus on the killer’s perspective makes Autour du lac feel even darker than L’inconnu du lac.
I find it interesting how the film flips the perspective to focus on the killer, almost like a dark mirror of L’inconnu du lac. The detail about Kristian using both his physique and psychological tricks to lure people in adds a really unsettling layer to the atmosphere.