PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I’ve been dying to see The Lodge for the past year and when the official trailer dropped a few weeks ago, it sent chills down my spine. However, nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to see.
The film was co-directed by Goodnight Mommy’s Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz. The cast stars Riley Keough (Mad Max), Jaeden Martell (IT franchise), Lia McHugh (Into the Dark: They Come Knocking), Alicia Silverstone (Clueless), Richard Armitage (The Hobbit trilogy), and more.
Synopsis for The Lodge
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.
The Lodge is a slow burn, but it’s a slow burn that will shake you to your core. From the very beginning, the sense of dread and hopelessness smacks you in the face and continues to build throughout its runtime. Tension and full-blown, immense anxiety brews as you’re on the edge of your seat, waiting and wondering about what horrifying thing will happen next. Heart-pounding. Afraid to blink. Afraid to breathe. Afraid to speak. Afraid to move.
What makes this story truly special and helps leave a lasting impression, is the powerful and emotional performances. Riley Keough is always phenomenal, but she takes it to the next level with her character in The Lodge. I was shaken by her performance and almost in tears. Like most others, I first saw Jaedan Martell in IT: Chapter 1 and he’s become a favorite ever since, however, I think his character in The Lodge really shows off his acting chops. His range of emotions is impressive and terrifying. Then there’s Lia McHugh… what an incredible young actress. Her performance, especially in the beginning, really got to me and had me in tears. She has the ability to bring you to your knees before you even know what’s happening.
Beyond those stellar performances, the cinematography and imagery helped connect and tie everything together beautifully. Snowed in at a lodge in the middle of nowhere might seem blissful to some, but in this story, it’s pure nightmare fuel. Utterly terrifying. The cold and snow somehow heights the sense of dread, fear, and panic. I was riddled with anxiety the whole time.
Final Thoughts
I did not expect this film to impact me so much and I don’t think anything could have prepared me for that experience. It was powerful, emotional, and completely fucked me up. It’s by far one of the best films I’ve seen recently, but not one I’ll revisit anytime soon because I care about my mental health. That being said, The Lodge is now in theaters and I highly recommend seeing it on the big screen!
