PopHorror Let's Get Scared
“Based on true events” films are hit and miss. Often over dramatized and of dubious quality, they can easily fall into terrible TV reenactment territory. The Lost, adapted from the late Jack Ketchum’s (The Girl Next Door) novel, that in turn was based upon real life killer Charles Schmid, is a stellar example of what can be done with “inspired by” films.
Synopsis
“19-year-old Ray Pye murders two young women. Four years later, detective Charlie Schilling knows that Ray did it. He just needs to prove it. Meanwhile, Ray has met his match in a new girl in town, Katherine Wallace.”
Have a look at the trailer!
Written for the screen, and directed, by Chris Sivertson (he who helmed the Lindsay Lohan stinker I Know Who Killed Me), The Lost, despite it’s 18 year age, has lost none of it’s impact. Gritty, gripping, and at times, shocking, the film features tour de force performances by virtually the entire cast.
The criminally underrated Marc Senter (Starry Eyes) is Ray Pye, a narcissistic sociopath who just wants to be someone. Following the murder of a pair of female campers, Pye bullies his cowering followers Jen (Shay Astar; Ernest Scared Stupid) and Tim (Alex Frost; Elephant) to help him cover up the crime, effectively making them both his accomplices. Detectives Ed Anderson (veteran character actor, the late Ed Lauter; Cujo), and Charlie Schilling (Michael Bowen; Jackie Brown) are convinced that Pye is the kid responsible, but unfortunately can’t prove it.
Four years later, Pye is still walking free, living at his mother’s motel, hosting parties for the local teens, and still keeping Jen and Tim under his thumb. After the beautiful Sally (Megan Henning; Grimm) gets a job at the motel, Ray soon sets his sights on her, oblivious to the fact that she’s involved with the much older, and now retired, Ed Anderson. Ray’s affections are redirected however, when troubled rich girl Katherine (Robin Sydney; the Evil Bong franchise) sweeps into town. Has Ray met his match? Rejection, betrayal, and bloodletting are soon the order of the day, as Ray Pye begins to unravel, his perfect illusion of himself shattering in the process, with Det. Schilling eager to put him away once and for all.
I absolutely loved The Lost upon its release. Superbly written and directed, it is easily the best film of Sivertson’s body of work, and that seems to be because of the “perfect storm” cast. Senter is just flat out amazing, and along with Astar, Frost, Henning and the incredible Sydney, form a core cast of twenty-somethings that gel on a level rarely seen. The veteran support from the likes of Lauter and Bowen only help to elevate the performances. Great pacing, and clever plot devices (the narcissist Pye hides his murder weapons behind a mirror, coincidence?) make the more rushed “descent into madness” films pale lamely by comparison.
Roni Flix’s blu ray transfer looks clear and immersive, with a new 2K master from the original negative, unrated and clocking in at 119 minutes. Archival commentary from the late Ketchum, is augmented with a new track featuring Sivertson and producer Lucky McKee. There’s also new interviews with Senter, Sydney and Astar, some outtakes, storyboards and the original “Jack & Jill” short film. An identical art slipcase fitted over the clear box rounds out the packaging.
The Lost is a chilling, grim, journey into the diseased mind of a not-quite-fictional killer, that explodes into a riot of violence in the last act. A high watermark in indie filmmaking, and the serial killer genre. “Classic” is a term affixed to way too many films these days, The Lost is a genuine classic, and that’s not viewed through nostalgic lenses. That’s facts.
Public Service Announcement: Putting crushed beer cans in your boots to make you appear taller is probably not the best idea (Charles Schmid actually did this…).
Ronin Flix’s Blu ray of The Lost is available now from fine retailers.
