InthissmartanderoticpsychologicalthrillerfromalumnifilmmakerNateDushku,wefollowbirdwatcherKristianBrooksasheinvadesanudequeercampgroundinNewHampshire,manipulatingotherstoservehisdarkfetishwhileblurringthelinebetweenprotagonistandantagonist.ForfansofStrangerBytheLake,BIRDERcaptivatesandchallengesitsaudience,bringingintoconversationquestionsofconsentandovertsexuality.ActorMichaelEmerygivesacomplexandenigmaticleadperformancethatisequalpartssexyandterrifying,andthenaturalisticsettingandminimalisticfilmmakingstyleonlyfurtherservethissophisticatedandwildlyadventurousnarrativebbb