Arthouse horror is on a tear right now, and it’s no secret. One of the most inspiring movements in American cinema right now, modern classics like “Hereditary,” “Get Out,” “The Witch,” “It Follows,” et al. have reinvigorated a genre blunted by the cheap slasher films of the ’80s and ’90s and sparked something of a movement, thoughtful, emotionally bruising and sometimes glacially paced horror. Who knows, look back in 10 years, and cinema historians may find an even deeper correlation that we can see to our toxic, uncertain times, and this cinema of unease and collective trauma.
I reviewed “The Lodge” for The Playlist last January at Sundance [Read More]. In my review I wrote: ’The Lodge’ is a meditative plumbing of the darkest parts of the human psyche, our vulnerabilities, and self-doubts and it’s these personal fears that resonate loudly.”
Except for an all-too-safe climax, the film is a complete horror knockout. The kind of arthouse horror we should continue to support. NEON nabbed the rights to the film, it’s not going to be a major hit quite like past Sundance faves such as “Hereditary” and “Get Out,” but it is a cant-miss-experience for cinephiles that have been craving for quality genre fare this year.
“The Lodge” will be released by NEON on February 7th.
I can confirm that Joel Coen’s “Jack of Spades” is based on Frances Frederica Montrésor’s 1901 novel “The Alien: A Story of Middle Age.” It’s a ghost story. A gothic mystery.