The Lake (1998 TV Movie) User Reviews

Derivative yet creepy, good fun

[brude2000 · 6/10 · 5 April 2000]

Cross `Invasion of the Body Snatchers' with `Journey to the Far Side of the Sun' and you get `The Lake,' a better-than-average foray into televised science-fiction fantasy.

Instead of emotionless pod-people, these invaders are exact opposites of their earthbound twins, doppelgangers from a poisoned alternate earth that are repopulating our world through an idyllic portal in the languid waters of a California lake. That is the premise of this creepy little ditty from network TV, starring former-`Baywatch' babe Yasmine Bleeth, Oscar-nominee Haley Joel Osment (`The Sixth Sense') and TV alumni Robert Prosky (`Hill Street Blues') and Marion Ross (`Happy Days').

As a sci-fi fan who considers `Invasion of the Body Snatchers' sacred, I was pleasantly surprised at how easily this derivative tele-chiller captured my interest and managed to build suspense right through to the end. Credit director David Jackson (`Atomic Train'), who appears to treat the genre with genuine respect while treading a well-traveled road. Buy the premise and you'll buy the film.

From Baywatch to Lake-watch

[Coventry · 6/10 · 27 December 2007]

Those who expected the combination of words "Lake + Yasmine + Bleeth" to equal ninety minutes of the ravishing former Baywatch star parading in colorful bikinis and too tight bathing suits might be *slightly* disappointed, but all the others are likely to be pleasantly surprised after seeing this produced-for-TV 90's thriller. The plot offers absolutely nothing original, as it's just another umpteenth variation on the "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" theme, but the overall atmosphere is remarkably unsettling, the pacing is kept stable without too many boring relapses and the acting performances are more than adequate. If you can accept the unearthly beautiful & voluptuous Bleeth to play the role of an intelligent nurse, you won't have any problems sinking your teeth into the rest of derivative story, neither. Jackie Ivers returns to her little hometown, San Vincento, California, after she received note that her abusive and drunkard father is dying from liver cirrhosis. She immediately notices something isn't kosher in town. Severely injured victims of car accidents happily walk the streets the day after, friendly elderly neighbors turn into grumpy and emotionless people overnight and even Jackie's terminally ill father miraculously cures and transforms into an amiable guy. Long before Jackie does, the attentive and experienced viewer figures out the townsfolk are gradually being replaced with replicas from a parallel dimension, and this through an eerie vortex in the middle of the town's lake. Admittedly you're always several steps ahead of the script, but the film at least contains a handful of well-staged & tense scenes (for example, when neighbor Maggie runs into her own doppelganger) and the paranoid climax even reminded me of the genuinely nostalgic Sci-Fi efforts of the 1950's. Admirers of the lovely Mrs. Bleeth – and, honestly, what male individual on this planet isn't one – are treated to a double portion of eye-candy near the end of the movie and even during that scene she behaves like a professional actress. "The Lake" also stars Haley Joel Osment before he became a world star thanks to "The Sixth Sense" and the always reliable Robert Prosky whose face anyone will recognize. Decent rainy-Saturday-afternoon time-waster.

The Lake

[BandSAboutMovies · 4/10 · 26 December 2021]

So what if the ozone layer really went away and we were forced to go to a parallel earth and take it over? Well, then we'd be the bad guys in this movie and we'd be up against the formidable Yasmine Bleeth, who has come home to realize that everyone in her old town is a totally different person.

David Jackson, who directed this, made one of the worst TV movies I've ever seen, The Jesse Ventura Story, as well as a movie I never knew existed, From the Files of Unsolved Mysteries: Voice from the Grave, which takes the dramatizations of Unsolved Mysteries all the way to a full movie in which Megan Ward is possessed by a dead woman. He also made Return to Halloweentown, which just shows that I have watched way too many movies.

It's all based on a book by J. D. Feigelson, who also wrote Horror High and Dark Night of the Scarecrow. He's completed a sequel to that film recently that he directed, wrote and edited.

Look - TV movies are a mixed bag. Sometimes you get Carl Kolchak. And other times you get people with their organs on the wrong side of their bodies. I mean, I liked it, but if this site proves anything, it's that my taste is questionable.

Enjoyable, eerie movie

[King_Opossum · 3 April 2000]

What an enjoyable movie this is! It's one of those plots that keep you thinking right the way through the film. This is fortunate, as it tends to distract you from the low budget and sometimes questionable acting. Although it's basically a variation on the old BODY SNATCHERS story, THE LAKE has some interesting angles which make it quite unique.

Yasmine Bleeth, who wraps up warm throughout the movie (well that red bathing suit can't keep much of the cold out!), is passable as the Los Angeles girl who returns home to find her friends and family taking on bizarrely different personalities. She looks good, but cannot quite grasp that lead-actress air that would have been nice. Her biggest assets (those that were exploited every Saturday afternoon in my teens) are defiantly not an issue here (to the credit of Ms Bleeth and the director). So it's good to see her in a role which relies on other talents. The supporting artists in the film, however, are rather unmemorable and serve as 'character wallpaper' in this highly decorated story. Of interest, though, is a slightly younger (and trendier) Haley Joel Osment who has just shot to fame as Cole in THE SIXTH SENSE.

In conclusion, this is an enjoyable movie with flaws that are somewhat masked by a damn good story. A bigger budget would have really made a difference (a cinema release may have been able to give us a glimpse of "the other side" in its exciting climax). But as a TV-movie this definitely works. So jump right in, and stay close to the shore!

The Lame more like

[richard-291 · 1/10 · 7 July 2001]

Avoid this film at all costs. I thought a film where a portal is opened to a parallel universe would bring endless possibilities and ideas (eg Stargate, Hellraiser etc) but this portal only leads to a world that is "hell" due to being destroyed by a lack of ozone (how topical!!). We never get to see this other world, and its inhabitants are exactly the same as the first reality, other than a slight mood change.

Bleeth cannot act convincingly in either reality, and there are no redeeming features! Sorry!

The kid from sixth Sense obviously went onto to better things but I doubt anyone else in this pathetic movie will. Watch 'Invasion of the bodysnatchers' for real duplicitous suspense and terror.

bad plot, great Yasmine

[skaternl · 2/10 · 15 December 2001]

The first 60 minutes of this movie are really good. Great plot till then. Yasmine Bleeth looks awesome as always. And plays her character more then well. But then all of the sudden the plot turns around in 180 degrees. One of the worst second part of a movie I've ever seen. And the ending is even more disappointing.

A definite bad day for the good cast. Could have been MUCH better if the script writers had put in some more effort.

Good TV thriller type with the beautiful Yasmine Bleeth.

[Brian-272 · 7/10 · 8 June 2001]

This NBC TV movie with beauty Yasmine Bleeth who returns home in the place she grew up only to find her town is now strange and different, was one of the better thrillers on TV that I've seen recently. The, Lake is mainly about an invasion of strangers from a parallel universe who cause and do the strangest things to this town. This movie might just have been made into a series if the writers would have thought more. Generally strange happenings with strange towns as the setting seem to make a hit series. To finish out this movie should be watched for the beautiful Yasmine Bleeth. Just like drinking milk does you good, watching a movie and viewing Yasmine does a man good also.

quite good

[liammurphy1 · 9/10 · 5 July 2001]

This film is quite good despite not having a great cast, The story is quite slow to begin with but after a while, it turns into a suspenceful and enjoyable movie, the plot is a cross between 'the stepford wives' and ' invasion of the bodysnatchers' The film isn't very frightening so children will enjoy enjoy this as well as adults.

a must for all die hard sci-fi fans

I'd give this movie a 9/10

very good

[wynemagail · 14 August 2004]

I really enjoyed this movie. I'm not usually a fan of TV movies, but this one surprised me. - Watch out here, I'm about to tell part of the movie. If you haven't seen it, don't read. - I love the part where Marion Ross' character runs upstairs, opens her door, and finds her 'twin' at her sewing machine! The 'twin' turns around and says, "What are YOU doing here?", (and she has that weird look on her face) at which point the original starts freaking out! The first time I saw it I got the chills! Very creepy... It's definitely a good movie to check out - I recorded it and am keeping it on file. My whole family enjoys it. If it had been a blockbuster Hollywood movie I think it would have been horrible. They would've added so much cussing and nudity that kids wouldn't be able to enjoy it. Check it out - it's worth it.

Terrific Idea Falls Apart Near The End

[drpakmanrains · 8/10 · 12 September 2017]

This is one of the many iterations of the "Invasion Of The Body Snatchers" theme of duplicates replacing originals. The title refers to the lake where some kind of vortex is the meeting place of two worlds. The film manages to really build suspense through the first hour, and is quite well done for a TV film. But like so many of these stories, the explanation is far fetched and a bit of a letdown. Having Haley Joel Osment is a plus, in a supporting role, but by the end, what might have been a 9 or 10 gets a generous 8, mainly because it was so captivating for the majority of the film.

Another good thriller with the talented Haley Joel Osment.

[martymaster · 28 December 2001]

This thriller is realy creepy and is about a lake which is the gate to and identical world where the only difference is that everyone is evil. So everybody has and identical evil twin.And the scary part is that they are trying to replace everyone in this world. Other than Haley Joel Osment you will find Yasmine Bleeth in the leading role.And I must say that it was the main reason why I watched this movie.

A good tv movie,which everyone should see the next time it is on tv.

Strangely watchable!

[Darthginger · 8/10 · 5 July 2001]

This movie i thought was excellent, a tv movie with a plot (how unusual.) The acting was top notch, Haley puting an excellent performance as we've come to expect and yasmine done just as well.

What was weird was how watchable this was, you sat there thinking what is going to happen next? who's next? i constantly asked myself what was happening and near the end it was wrapped up brilliantly.

Sure the ending was a bit useless but at least it left room for a sequel if needed. All in all excellent 10/10 for this. Starngely compulsive!

DARTHGINGER