Week 4 of Dancing With the Stars Season 34 brought the ballroom its most vibrant and theatrical episode yet. In celebration of Disneyland Resort’s 70th anniversary, couples drew inspiration from iconic films, beloved attractions, and songs that shaped generations of fans.
The result was a night of glittering spectacle and heavy emotion.
The highlight of the episode was the show’s mix of nostalgia and competition. Dylan Efron zipped across the floor with a quickstep inspired by Pixar’s Cars, performing to “Life Is a Highway.” His high-energy delivery and visible joy charmed the audience.
Judges noted that his timing had improved significantly since the premiere, placing him among the week’s top earners.
Efron teased a “special” performance coming for Dedication Week, sparking speculation that his brother Zac Efron might make an appearance tied to High School Musical. That tease alone has lit up fan discussions on social media.
Whitney Leavitt proved that technical excellence and artistry can coexist. Her Hamilton-inspired foxtrot to “The Room Where It Happens” earned the season’s first score of 9, setting a new standard for precision and storytelling.
Derek Hough praised her “command of musical phrasing,” while Carrie Ann Inaba described the performance as “regal and powerful.” For a relative newcomer, Leavitt’s rise has been swift, and Week 4 solidified her as one of the season’s strongest contenders.
Elaine Hendrix also turned heads with her quickstep routine based on the Space Mountain theme. Her polished lines and cosmic energy drew admiration. Still, the bigger buzz came after Julianne Hough hinted that Dedication Week might include a reunion between Hendrix and her Parent Trap co-star Lisa Ann Walter.
The tease instantly went viral, with fans celebrating a potential on-floor appearance marking over two decades since the film that made both actresses household names.
But the night ended with heartbreak. After racking up over 40 million viewer votes, Hilaria Baldwin and partner Gleb Savchenko were eliminated. Their quickstep to the Star Wars “Cantina Band” theme was energetic and charming, but it wasn’t enough to keep them safe.
Savchenko expressed gratitude in a heartfelt farewell, calling Baldwin “a joy to teach and perform with.” The elimination left ten couples remaining, each looking to build emotional momentum going into Dedication Week.
High Scores, Heartfelt Tributes, and a Hint of Legacy
Disney Night wasn’t all cinematic flair; it was also a showcase of personal style. Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik closed the show with a charismatic jazz number to “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin, performing with theatrical vigor and joy.
Their chemistry oozed through every movement, earning strong reviews. Bruno Tonioli called it “a pure showstopper,” while Derek Hough applauded Affleck’s daring mid-routine back walkover.
Meanwhile, Jordan Chiles, the Olympic gymnast turned fan favorite, found her groove with a quickstep inspired by The Princess and the Frog.
Dancing to “Special Spice,” she honored Princess Tiana and celebrated representation on the ballroom floor. Judges applauded her authenticity and her commitment to both character and technique. Julianne Hough called her “a natural storyteller with footwork that mirrors confidence.”
On the scoreboard, the competition tightened dramatically. Leavitt’s near-perfect 27 kept her on top, while Efron and Chiles followed closely at 25.
Robert and Witney, Alix and Val, and Scott and Rylee maintained their safe standings. Viewers were reminded that scores only tell part of the story; charisma, chemistry, and connection often decide who thrives in later weeks.
Beyond the glitter and choreography, this episode captured what makes Dancing With the Stars endure: its careful balance of nostalgia and personal depth. Disney Night wasn’t just a thematic gimmick; it was a love letter to shared memories.
Dancing With the Stars (Credit: Disney+)
That sense of familiarity took on special meaning as Julianne Hough teased what’s ahead. Dedication Week will focus on personal tributes, whether to family, mentors, or life-changing moments.
From early rehearsals and teaser clips, the episode promises tears, reunions, and some of the most emotionally charged dances the season has ever seen.
Elaine Hendrix is reportedly dedicating her performance to friendship and longevity. Her rumored reunion with Lisa Ann Walter has sparked massive anticipation, a nostalgic moment that could bridge fandoms across generations.
Meanwhile, Dylan Efron’s subtle hints of a family cameo continue fueling online theories. Some believe Zac Efron might appear briefly or lend his voice to the musical segment, delivering a meta homage that would thrill both High School Musical and DWTS loyalists.
Shifting Dynamics and Stories to Watch
Hilaria Baldwin’s exit means the field narrows to ten pairs. Each surviving couple now faces a more emotional and technically demanding chapter. There’s growing tension between entertainers and technicians. The show’s dynamic between contestants is driven by personality versus precision.
Whitney Leavitt enters Week 5 as the dancer to beat. Her consistent growth has caught the judges’ attention, and her social media following has swelled thanks to her refined style and relatability. With only midseason approaching, her position as a frontrunner seems increasingly unshakable.
At the same time, Jordan Chiles’ athletic discipline and storytelling instincts make her a dark horse. Her dancing has evolved rapidly, buoyed by an enthusiastic younger audience rooting for her Olympic-to-ballroom transformation. Fans expect her Dedication Week piece to address perseverance and family, core themes of her gymnastics career.
As for Jen Affleck, her enthusiasm and showmanship shine even when the choreography challenges her. Her Disney Night performance hinted that she’s ready to push beyond comedy and into competitive territory.
The chemistry between her and Jan Ravnik continues to bring a light theatricality to each week’s routines, drawing strong viewer support.
Elaine Hendrix remains the emotional anchor among the celebrity contestants. Her poised performances balance mature charisma with controlled intensity. If Lisa Ann Walter joins her Dedication Week number, it may become one of Season 34’s defining moments.
Longtime fans still associate the pair’s Parent Trap connection with friendship, nostalgia, and empowerment, making this reunion both a ratings magnet and an emotional centerpiece.
And then, there’s the Efron factor. Dylan’s confidence grows weekly, and fans are fixated on his “special performance.”
The theory that his tribute may involve his brother Zac, possibly through music or projection, has created a cross-generational hype unseen since Disney Week itself. Producers have stayed coy, calling his rehearsal package “one of the show’s most personal reveals.”
What to Expect in Dedication Week
As Dancing With the Stars transitions from fantasy to feeling, the tone promises to shift dramatically. Dedication Week often represents the emotional heart of each season, a moment when contestants lay bare their personal connections to dance. Expect stories of resilience, legacy, and love.
Producers hint that set designs will be stripped of elaborate Disney décor in favor of minimalist lighting that highlights emotion.
Judges Julianne Hough and Carrie Ann Inaba emphasize storytelling as the focus of next week’s scoring criteria. Derek Hough, who has often praised vulnerability on the floor, previewed the upcoming episode as “a turning point in the season.”
The stakes could not be higher. With the halfway mark approaching, each celebrity must now balance technical precision with personal sincerity. Audiences respond not just to perfection but to authenticity, and that emotional balance defines how far each contestant will go.
As for fans, anticipation is palpable. Social feeds are buzzing with reunion theories and predictions about which choreography will bring everyone to tears. With tributes to loved ones and mentors shaping many routines, Dedication Week could deliver one of the season’s most memorable nights.
After the glitz of Disney, Dancing With the Stars now pivots to the heart. Whether it’s childhood nostalgia, friendship reunited, or family legacy honored, Season 34 looks set to remind viewers that the ballroom’s true magic isn’t just in sequins or spins; it’s in stories that resonate.
It begins innocently enough. Diego and Sage, a longtime couple hoping to mend strained intimacy, rent a gorgeous lakeside estate for a peaceful weekend. They imagine long walks, good wine, and reconnection.
But when another couple, Cinnamon and Will, arrive claiming to have booked the same property through a different app, the romantic retreat turns unnervingly awkward. The hosts remain unreachable, leaving the two pairs to share the space.
Within minutes, the film declares its chaotic identity through a shocking cold open: two naked figures sprinting through the woods, pursued by death, until an arrow ends one man’s escape grotesquely. It’s grotesque, absurd, and darkly funny, a promise of what might be an erotic thriller unafraid of absurdity.
The question is whether Bone Lake manages to fulfill its wild premise.
The Chaos Behind the Calm: Meet the Players
Diego and Sage Diego, played by Marco Pigossi, is a community college teacher and struggling novelist nursing embarrassment over his current occupation. His insecurity drives much of the tension in his relationship.
His partner, Sage (Liana Liberato), is an editor on the brink of a career shift, burdened by the financial weight of supporting them both. She wants emotional reconnection, but Diego’s obsession with his unwritten novel pushes her away.
The film quickly reveals sexual frustration simmering between them, and it’s clear they’ve been stuck in a cycle of expectation and disappointment.
Will and Cinnamon Enter the strangers Andra Nechita’s Cinnamon (or “Cin”) and Alex Roe’s Will. Their arrival changes the house’s energy instantly. They’re bold, luxurious, and impossibly confident. Cinnamon’s open sensuality and mysterious connection to Diego’s favorite author dangle career advancement like forbidden fruit.
Will, meanwhile, oozes charisma and menace, turning trivial exchanges into power plays. The sexual tension crackling through each shared glance transforms the lakeside home into a theater of desire.
As the night progresses, a harmless dinner becomes a charged social experiment. Whispers turn into dares, drinks lead to confessions, and bodies inch closer under the pretense of curiosity. The audience begins to wonder: who leads and who follows?
The Vibe Shift: When the Fun Turns Frightening
The script aims for the charged atmosphere of Funny Games or Speak No Evil, both masterworks of social discomfort, but the tonal balance falters.
Bone Lake (Credit: Bleecker Street)
The early sequences brim with potential: a couple out of sync, trapped with sensual strangers whose motives grow murkier. Yet, for all the erotic aesthetic, the characters are frustratingly hollow. Their choices rarely mirror real human instincts.
Why would Sage, an intelligent and self-possessed woman, remain in that house once the seduction turns sinister? Why does Diego oscillate between timid victim and reckless participant without explanation?
The problem lies not in absurdity itself, plenty of pulp thrillers thrive on exaggeration, but in inconsistency. Morgan introduces provocative themes about lust, power, and creative desperation, only to treat them superficially.
Even the supposed critique of performative liberation, where sex becomes just another form of power play, feels hollow because the writing never commits to coherence.
When Sex Becomes a Weapon
Still, Bone Lake isn’t without its provocative pleasures. Cin and Will’s manipulations are fascinating to watch when the film leans into voyeurism.
Morgan’s camera knows where to linger on trembling hands, glistening skin, and silent glances that reveal more than dialogue ever could. The seduction scenes blur lines between consent and coercion, between curiosity and compulsion.
As the couples engage in “games” that test their boundaries, the atmosphere thickens. The film’s most gripping moments occur when words dissolve into body language, when danger hides in intimacy. For brief stretches, the viewer genuinely feels what Sage feels: disoriented, intrigued, and afraid.
But the tension never sustains itself. The erotic thrill loses energy once the violence begins, mainly because the film’s emotional core is too weak to support it. By the time the story crescendos into chaos with bodies drenched in blood and morality abandoned, the absurd excesses merely exhaust rather than excite.
Character Depth or Surface Shock?
Diego emerges as a confused construction, torn between shame and arrogance. He labels himself both victim and visionary but owns neither identity.
Sage, supposedly the emotional compass, spends too long reacting instead of acting. When she finally retaliates in the finale, it feels less like triumph and more like a necessity, a catharsis poorly earned.
Cinnamon and Will, despite being archetypal predators, feel livelier. Their exaggerated behavior almost redeems the film through sheer audacity. Nechita’s performance, in particular, injects moments of gleeful camp that recall 90s erotic thrillers, those unapologetically raw experiments in desire and deceit.
Morgan’s direction flirts with satire but rarely crosses into bold commentary. If anything, Bone Lake tries to say that sex reveals the monsters within us, yet it never supports this thesis with convincing character work. Instead, it settles for glossy chaos, a visual feast lacking emotional fiber.
Visual Style and Ethical Stumbles
Cinematographer Nick Matthews crafts a neon-smeared aesthetic that’s both alluring and artificial. The forest setting glows with saturated reds and blues, evoking tension even when the script doesn’t.
But some creative decisions betray poor judgment, particularly in the lighting of blood effects that appear visually dubious, raising unintended racial undertones. It’s an example of how aesthetic ambition sometimes eclipses sensitivity.
Stylistic control matters deeply in erotic thrillers because atmosphere functions as narrative. Every lighting cue, musical transition, and camera angle should intensify the mood or moral confusion.
In Bone Lake, these choices often distract rather than enhance. What could have been a feverish commentary on lust and manipulation becomes a noisy collage of missed opportunities.
The Aftertaste of Excess
By its final act, Bone Lake spirals into absurdity. Blood, betrayal, and implausibly poetic death scenes compete for screen time. And while some of this chaos may entertain, the lack of emotional investment undermines any lasting impact. When the survivors stumble out of that forest, we aren’t horrified; we’re simply relieved it’s over.
It’s not that absurdity can’t work in a thriller. The problem is commitment. The movie constantly hints at psychological commentary, yet embraces pulp violence without finesse. The result is a film neither as sensual as it wants to be nor as horrifying as it could have been.
Still, Morgan deserves credit for risk-taking. Few contemporary female directors tackle erotic horror with such audacity, even if the execution falters. The ambition beneath the missteps suggests a filmmaker experimenting with boundaries that mainstream thrillers often shy away from.
Bone Lake wanted to be a fiery statement about the tension between carnal desire and human morality. Instead, it ends up a curious mess, occasionally exciting but mostly frustrating. Its visual gloss and seductive atmosphere mask a screenplay unsure of what it wants to say about obsession, fantasy, or fear.
The film’s first ten minutes remain its finest, a promise of chaos that fades too soon. Like its characters, Bone Lake mistakes temptation for meaning and spectacle for truth. Viewers seeking raw sensuality might find sparks of interest, but those craving coherence will leave feeling strangely unsatisfied.
