The Lodge

I have only one problem with The Lodge and it’s very similar to the one I had with the directorial début of the duo Franz-Fiala, Goodnight Mommy, I also found it predictable. Though not after five minutes, like the previous one, but somewhere around the middle, at most, it was already clear what was happening and where it was going. And again, I’m not entirely sure whether the directors expect that the viewer already suspects the point (some of the clues are way too obvious!), or the way the cards are shown in the end is really meant as a surprise. Nevertheless, it is better than the previous film conceptually, and the horror aspect also works better; for most of the run, the psycho-horror-winter atmosphere is firing on all cylinders. On the other hand, the uncompromising fifteen minutes in the end are worth five stars. I enjoyed it, but for the next film I would like the directors to either bluff a little more ingeniously or to show their cards right from the beginning :) #KVIFF2019 (06/30/2019)

After a year's wait, the anticipated The Lodge is finally available and it is, as expected, decent psychological terror. Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala serve up a similarly tuned film to their debut Goodnight Mommy that is is also close to Hereditary, so if you didn't like either of the aforementioned, you're out of luck. The film moves forward at a slow pace, playing a paranoid, chilling psychological game with the viewer that works solidly, especially in the last 40 minutes. It feels very intimate, but the atmosphere, the chilly setting and the performances are all very decent. It's more of a psychological thriller with horror elements, which is welcome in the current horror crisis, but I reckon quite a few viewers will be grumbling. Story****, Action>No, Humor>No, Violence*, Entertainment***, Music***, Visuals***, Atmosphere****, Suspense***. 7/10. (04/28/2020)

Artificial, that’s the first word that comes to mind when thinking about The Lodge. From the plot to the characters to the atmosphere – perhaps it’s well made and interestingly escalated, but it couldn’t be more artificial. Every good idea is followed by several dull shots that only serve to extend the runtime without moving anything forward – compared with The Shining (with which it has several similarities), it’s very weak. But Riley Keough was very good again. 60% (05/08/2020)

The Lodge is a well made movie from a technical point of view (the cameraman Thimios Bakatakis is a master of his art), it has a good enough horror atmosphere, an apt setting of a snowy wasteland and works well with the building suspense. However, the plot is too predictable, you can unravel the mystery leading to the plot twist relatively quickly. It did not really bother me that much, only that it maybe did not make much sense regarding what the psychological terror was supposed to achieve, and why the probable consequences were not well thought out, but I do not want to analyze it too much and I definitely do not want to reveal any spoilers. I enjoyed the movie, it is skillfully shot and Riley Keough especially is phenomenal - cute and scary all at the same time. I definitely recommend this horror movie. [KVIFF 2019] (07/01/2019)

This film is more so a thriller with horror elements, rather than a pure horror. The promising psychological story, set on the edge of reality, dreams and hallucinations, suffers from a slow start, followed by a gradually escalating game with anticipation, enticing a striking mysterious/horror conclusion. However, the final unravelling is surprisingly rational and grounded in reality, casting a shadow of doubt on the many coincidences and unlikely moments that occurred during the film, which played into the hands of its protagonists. The film definitely impresses with its atmosphere and its acting, and by building doubts and uncertainty, but its point is not satisfactory enough to redeem the wait for it. (07/06/2019)