The Lodge

Well, for starters, woof.

This movie made me feel very scared, but in a desperate, there’s nothing I can do, please make it stop kind of way. I don’t handle it well when things happen to kids. Or, evidently, seemingly sweet, slighted ex-wives. I was almost done with the movie at that part. Two minutes in.

But I stuck it out. Having recently watched “The Haunting of Bly Manor,” I was especially unnerved by the dollhouse. Was it a Bly Manor dollhouse? Did the dolls effect the people? Or did the people effect the dolls? And those poor baby ghost shrimp, don’t even get me started.

I suggested the “twist” shortly before the reveal. But then when I realized I was right, I just felt sick to my stomach for the rest of the movie. Justifiably so. If I weren’t a weak-willed, pacifistic motherly type and could have enjoyed this movie on a strictly horror film level, I’d have to say the ending was perfection.

In discussing with other people, there was much talk about how great the musical score was. There was music? I was so engrossed in the film, so horrified and panicking, unable to breathe and feeling sick, I have to admit, music did not even register in my brain. If you asked me right now what music was in the movie, I’d say none. Was it a silent film? Oh god, just save the children.

Great movie. I give it an A. Would absolutely pay to see it in theaters, and I wouldn’t even sneak in my own snacks - I’d buy a souvenir popcorn bucket and coke, PLUS Jujyfruit and Junior Mints.

Review Contains Spoilers. Click to view...

So right from the beginning this was a much better experience than the rest of January. The first big scare comes very early, and it was extremely effective - surprising, shocking, and really set up the film for success.

Brian's Superficial Scary Movie Check List:
Creepy Dollhouse ✅
Found Footage ✅
Spooky Santa ✅
Religion is Scary ✅

Looking good so far, as you need a few of these classic tropes in any good scary movie. Going a little deeper

Obviously, there is a lot of allegory here. The past trauma is really played up, but I thought it was well done. Just enough to be uncomfortable but not too over the top.

*spoilers below*

However, when the kid hung himself off the stairs, I thought it jumped the shark. I didn't really understand what was happening, it seemed too over the top and unrealistic for a trauma metaphor. The reason for the A minus instead of the A starts here. Shortly after that, it is revealed that all of this was a cruelly successful gaslighting attempt by the kids who became instantly unlikable. I almost didn't believe the "twist" here and was hoping they would walk it back somehow. But just like for Grace, the plot was also too far gone off the deep end and we all know how this is going to end now.

* end spoilers *

The conclusion was well done, and the final scene definitely left an imprint, despite what I thought was a slightly flawed plot. Technically, I thought the score, lighting, sound were ripped from Ari Aster but you don't lose points for that. I do think they missed out on some opportunities for better camera work, particularly during the outside shots but also indoors but it wasn't distracting at all and overall passable. Would definitely recommend it and I'm pleased to hand out my first "A" (albeit with a minus) of the new year.