The Lodge
R for disturbing violence, some bloody images, language and brief nudity | 1h 48min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
Synopsis: A soon-to-be stepmom is snowed in with her fiancé’s two children at a remote holiday village. Just as relations begin to thaw between the trio, some strange and frightening events take place.
Review: If ever a film had the potential to be great but fell flat on its face it would be THE LODGE. Normally I am not that rudely honest about a movie but I had such hopes for this one and it had every element it needed. The fact that it is a hot mess is mind blowing. If anything I believe it strayed too far away from its original intent; which was to be scary.
I frighten very easily and this film registered zero on my scare-o-meter. The writers thought that less was more and that if they had a remote setting and a chilling backstory we would all fall right in. Didn’t work. The predictability and the plot holes were too much to overcome. The backstory of this young girl being the only survivor of a Heaven’s Gate type cult? Do THAT movie. Putting her in a secluded location with her young, future step children – who do not like her – as she struggles with her past? Golden. But don’t have them sit around the table for 100 minutes moping about not getting along then try and wow us with a thin attempt at psychological horror.
The failing of this film in no way falls on the shoulders of its three principle actors. Riley Keough, Jaeden Martell (IT) and Lia McHugh each bring a wide range of emotion to this film. You believe in them. You understand their dilemma and how they react to situations. Story telling is more than a title and concept. This had nothing else to give.
The rest of the review may have a few minor spoilers. If you want to skip it that is fine. I think you have enough of my opinion to do what you must. The ending of this film was very disjointed. Once you find out the twist of the plot – which you probably have figured out already – the film makes no attempt to shine a light on how and why. The characters just wake up and do a 180 from the day before and act as if they have experienced things we haven’t seen. I honestly thought I had maybe fallen asleep and missed twenty minutes or so. I was that lost. Maybe all of that fell in a digital waste basket.
Then with about 12 minutes left they decide to go for the gore and horror and give us an ending with no redemptive quality. None. You leave not caring for anything or anyone. And again, nothing is scary. This is not a horror film. It is a horror idea. I say skip it all together. I hate disliking a film this much because I know a lot of people put a lot of work into it. But sometimes you have to call it like it is.
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