The Lodge
The Lodge
A soon-to-be-stepmom is snowed in with her fiance's two children at a remote holiday village. Just as relations finally begin to thaw between the trio, strange and frightening events threaten to summon psychological demons from her strict religious childhood.
rg9400 reviewedNovember 1, 2024
The Lodge is a fascinating movie with a really interesting concept that gets a bit lost in the middle due to a decision, hampering the overall product. It begins really strong, setting the stage for an interesting conflict to emerge within the snowbound lodge. Initially, the movie turns this conflict onto its head, taking a strained relationship and drawing sides in a way that seems to subvert typical horror tropes. I really liked that. However, the movie then sort of enters this more surreal area where what is actually happening starts to get very confusing. I'm not opposed to that if I can sort of make theories, or if there are clues to the true nature of things. I feel this shift to surrealism also undercuts the themes a bit because it completely gets rid of the interesting dynamic it had initially set up. I was not enjoying this new direction much, but the movie ends by clearing up what is actually going on and bringing back the original themes and conflicts to the forefront. I just wish it had handled that section in the middle better. Regardless, it's a tense family drama with a focus on mental health and relationships, some cool cinematography, and strong acting by Riley Keough. I think I am much happier with the whole product after finishing it and being able to think about it, but I was certainly frustrated with where it was going while watching it. If it had handled that section better, I would think it would be one of the better modern horror movies. Regardless, I think it all works out in the end, giving a very unique take on what seems like a tropey setup, so I would still recommend it.