‘The Lodge’ is a chilling new take on the classic cabin fever tale – UT Daily Beacon

Going into this movie, I really wasnt sure what to expect. When I heard the writers and directors of the disturbing 2014 movie Goodnight Mommy were making another horror film, I knew I had to check it out.

That being said, I was a little apprehensive because I didnt know what specific type of horror movie The Lodge was going to be: would it be more psychological, gory, supernatural, artistic? Im not a huge fan of gore, so I was hoping The Lodge wouldnt be a repeat of Goodnight Mommy in that regard.

Pretty much immediately, within the first ten minutes of the film, I had my answer. The Lodge takes the genre of psychological horror and twists it into something truly unnerving. Its not particularly gory, but you still feel that impact of shock.

Dont get me wrong; this movie isnt always action-packed. It could even be considered a slow burn at times. While its definitely consistently creepy throughout, it doesnt necessarily have huge things happening in every single scene. But thats one of the things I liked so much about it. It takes its time establishing tension.

Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala have crafted a truly unique story about a family staying in an isolated winter cabin over the holidays. The overall plot is somewhat hard to sum up after having seen all its twists and turns, but the general premise is this: Richard and his two children, Aidan and Mia, go on a winter retreat with Richards new girlfriend, Grace, in hopes that Grace can bond with the kids, and Aidan and Mia can start accepting Grace into their lives.

Aidan and Mia arent really that into Grace, though, since they see her as essentially trying to replace their real mother. Grace also has something of a dark past, which the kids arent too keen on.

Basically, things get really weird really fast as more is revealed about Graces history. Nightmares and hallucinations abound. Super eerie string music plays in the background as characters walk around the lodge in the dark. You start to wonder whos crazy and whos sane. Typical cabin fever stuff, right?

Well, while this may sound like something youve seen before, I can assure you that youve never seen a cabin fever tale quite like The Lodge.

Riley Keough gives a great performance as Grace. She really freaked me out several times throughout the movie as her character grew more and more unhinged. Aidan and Mia, played by Jaeden Martell of It fame and Lia McHugh respectively, have character arcs and reveals Ive never really seen done in a horror film before. Even Alicia Silverstone makes a brief appearance as Aidan and Mias real mother, Laura.

Basically, The Lodge has a great cast and some incredibly spooky moments. I could see how some people might find the film confusing or dislike the direction it takes, but I loved it. It wasnt what I expected walking in, and thats something I can commend Franz and Fiala for. Maybe Im just a sucker for well-directed and well-acted horror movies, but if thats the case, sue me. Guilty as charged.

I really do believe, though, that The Lodge is something special. Not everyone may agree, but I can really appreciate the surprises and unsettling ending this film gave me. Its not the kind of ending youll get from a Blumhouse horror movie. This films got guts.

I recommend The Lodge to anyone who wants to feel chilled or unsettled on these cold February nights. Its an atmospheric experience that gives an A+ effort to scare you in ways that are grounded in the psychological and strange, and Ill most likely still be thinking about it in the coming weeks.

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'The Lodge' is a chilling new take on the classic cabin fever tale - UT Daily Beacon

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero