Did Sage Cheat on Diego? Bone Lake Director Explains the Crucial Cut That Keeps Fans Guessing
Bone Lake, directed by Mercedes Bryce Morgan and released by Bleecker Street on Oct. 3, 2025, intentionally cuts away during a key moment that leaves it unclear whether the couple Sage (Maddie Hasson) and Diego (Marco Pigossi) actually cheat — and Morgan explains why she made that choice.
What happened in the scene
In Bone Lake, two characters named Will (Alex Roe) and Cin (Andra Nechita) gatecrash a weekend getaway for Sage and Diego. Will and Cin pressure both Sage and Diego with sexual propositions. The camera shows close-ups and heated looks, but then the film cuts away before any encounter is shown.
The cut and what it leaves ambiguous
The movie never shows whether Sage or Diego accept the propositions. Later, Will tells Diego he had sex with Sage. However, the film presents Will and Cin as characters who lie, so their claims are not fully reliable. Morgan deliberately leaves the moment off-screen, and the audience does not get a definitive on-screen answer.
Director explains her choices
Mercedes Bryce Morgan said the cut was intentional and tied to the film’s themes about trust. She said, “I think that trust in relationships — and everything in life — is not something you can really see or nail down. You either have to choose to trust that person or not.”
On the film’s tone and title, Morgan said, “It’s called Bone Lake ’cause it’s the place where people go to bone. We wanted a title that let people know how campy and fun and ridiculous the movie was going to be. I think if we named it something much more serious, people would be set up for the wrong movie.”
She also described her aims for showing the couples’ dynamics. Morgan said, “Even though Will and Cin aren’t good people, I’d say they have their relationship shit figured out a lot more, because they communicate.” In addition, she said, “Sex can be the most amazing thing in the world, or the most emotional thing in the world.”
Finally, Morgan added, “It sounds cliché, but communicating with each other [is crucial], because better communication leads to better sex and better relationships,” and, “I just wanted to create it where you could understand both characters, where you go, ‘Maybe he’s not as aware as he should be. But he’s also wanting to please his partner, but he doesn’t know how.’”
How the two couples are contrasted
The film contrasts the pairs visually and tonally. Will and Cin’s sexual relationship is shown as loud, intense, and often off-screen or in darkness. Meanwhile, Sage and Diego’s sex scenes are shot in daylight and presented as more clinical; Sage fakes orgasms and the couple struggles to communicate clearly about sexual needs.
Why that matters in the story
Because Morgan framed Will and Cin as communicative — even if manipulative — their actions function as a test of Sage and Diego’s bond. The off-screen cut forces viewers to decide whether to trust the main couple rather than giving them a definitive answer.
Release and factual context
Bone Lake opened in theaters on Oct. 3, 2025, through Bleecker Street. The film stars Marco Pigossi as Diego, Maddie Hasson as Sage, Alex Roe as Will, and Andra Nechita as Cin. The director has described the film as both comedic and violent, and as a movie about relationships, communication, and trust.
