The Lodge Review - A Terrifying Psychological Cult Thriller

Details

Category: Indies, Docs, Foreign Film

Published on Monday, 13 January 2020 22:43

Written by Janet Walker

The Lodge, from FilmNation Entertainment, presents a mental horror thriller as three snowbound days turn into a battle between good and evil, as the past which never really stays buried, rises from the ashes with a vengeance.

Directed by Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz, The Lodge stars Riley Keough, Alicia Silverstone, Richard Armitage, Jaeden Martell, Lia McHugh, and Lola Reid.

The film begins as a camera pans room to room, as Laura, played by Alicia Silverstone, grabs the doll and retreats to the bathroom to finish her makeup when she breaks down crying uncontrollably. Calling for the kids, Mia, played by Lia McHugh, and Aiden, played by Jaeden Martell, she is driving them to spend the weekend with their dad, Richard, played by Richard Armitage.

Academy Awards: Nominations For The 92nd Academy Awards Announced (Complete List)

For some unusual reason, today, he wants to have a talk. His unusual kindnesses weren’t enough to get past the hurt, especially when he explains, they need to finalize the divorce as he and Grace, played by Riley Keough, are getting married in September.

Walking away from him, she returns home begins drinking a glass of wine pulls out a revolver puts it in her mouth and pulls the trigger.

The next scene cuts to the funeral. And then it is Thanksgiving and Richard, trying to get his plans back on track, is explaining to the kids, that for Christmas he liked them to spend some time with Grace at the cabin.

Celebrity Interview: Jany Temime, Judy Costume Designer, Speaks on Creating the Iconic Image of Judy Garland

The children remain loyal to their mom and blame grace for her suicide, which is when we find out Richard is a psychologist and Grace is the sole survivor of childhood religious cult killing. Aiden and Mia are intent on finding out everything they can about Grace’s past. Scenes from the discovery of the Jim Jones style mass suicide, except a piece of duct tape was placed across the mouths of each of the victims with the words “Sin” written on them.

They all go to the cabin, an old, big, house with a pond, and miles of nothingness. Soon Richard is called back to the city, a five-hour trip, and Grace, who is still on psych meds, is happy to stay with the kids as it will be a chance to get to known them better.

Soon, of course, a blinding snowstorm, and cabin fever on Day one. We see Grace having coping issues, dreams, memories of her past, the four walls are really closing in on her and Aiden and one could care less.

Day two begins with a startling reality, someone or something has entered the home and taken everything, the food, all their winter clothing, removed all the Christmas decorations which she placed, and took her pills, as well as everyone’s personal belongings.

Without her psych meds, her mental struggles become more pronounced with each minute. Cell phones are dead as the generator won’t work and the electricity is out. Stripping away all the safety nets, the distractions, the support systems the meltdown begins.

Spies in Disguise Review - A Fun, High Flying, Espionage Caper

Already mentally unstable, the squeeze which is producing irrational thoughts and actions. Soon she is prepared to walk to find no one hoping to find help. The breakdown causes her to experience a full fledged mental recurrence into her past. Soon, in order to seek help from her definition of god, she is practicing the skewed doctrine of her cult upbringing.

Believing it is her sin that has caused this situation she is driven to participate in a repentance through self-harm. She is no longer herself but the cult child and is once again captive to false doctrines and enslaved to destructive behaviors.

As always, the demons of the past rush her in the midnight hour when her mind is open to the torture, unable to be medicated, unable to sleep, every sound amplified, reverberating a signal from the days of cult teachings and torture.

Day four we see Richard on his way back to the cabin.

The ensemble cast delivers shockingly authentic performances as the angry children, the rejected wife, the savior fiancé and dad and the mentally disturbed psychotic. As the tension escalates and mentally the breaking point is so vivid that is tangible and intense as if one could hear the splintering and cracking of her grip on reality as she slowly slips under control of the demonic.

Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker Review – Spectacular, Electrifying, Dramatic

The Lodge is an edge of the seat psychological thriller, with heightened suspense, moments of horror, religious cult teachings, and gun violence.

The Lodge opens February 7, 2020. A must see.