Das Grauen am See

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.

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.

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.

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.

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