‘The Bell Keeper’ – Should You Ring The Bell?

A group of friends set out to Bell Lake to film a documentary on the local legend of The Bell Keeper, but they get more than they bargained for when they find out how much truth there is to the legend.

The Bell Keeper, directed by Colton Tran, brings together a pretty generic cast of characters but in a more tongue-in-cheek way. Kathleen Kenny and Reid Miller are the standouts, playing off each other well with a strong chemistry. While some of the dialogue is certainly hit or miss – and not all of the humor between characters landed for me – the group as a does have a charm to them. The Bell Keeper himself, portrayed by Randy Couture, was solid considering how out-of-the-box the role was for him.

The Bell Keeper does pull a bit of a bait and switch that has an entertaining payoff in that I went in expecting a slasher/ghost story, and while that is there, it also brings some strong Evil Dead vibes into the mix. The combination keeps the film from falling into the trap of being another generic by-the-numbers horror movie, which, in itself, is commendable.

The Bell Keeper is a film that proudly wears its influences on its sleeve. While the sum of its parts aren’t particularly original, it does create an interesting mashup. Unfortunately, the film is an uneven one. While the concept is solid, and the practical effects are great, the performances from the cast are hit or miss, as was the humor.

The Bell Keeper releases in theaters and On Demand Friday, October 13, 2023, and on DVD on December 5, 2023.