We’re just a few weeks away, but is anyone aware that a new Osgood Perkins movie is coming out on November 14? It’s called “Keeper,” and Neon is doing a very good job of hiding it. Apparently, Neon won’t be screening the film widely for critics. Their reason? To “preserve the mystery.” I don’t buy it.
Adding to the mystery, the film is under a review embargo that won’t lift until the day its Thursday previews begin. If I asked Neon about such a last-minute embargo, I’m sure they’d say it’s “to preserve the mystery.”
“Keeper” stars Tatiana Maslany and Rossif Sutherland as a couple retreating to a remote cabin for their anniversary, only to discover they’re not alone. What follows, per the logline, is the arrival of an “unspeakable evil” that digs up long-buried secrets tied to the cabin.
This is actually the second film Perkins has released this year, after “The Monkey” — a deliriously over-the-top adaptation of Stephen King’s short story that played like a blood-soaked cartoon. Despite mixed reviews, that film did alright, earning $68M against a modest $10M budget.
That’s the thing about Perkins — he makes them cheap and fast (no more than four weeks of shooting), and Neon reaps the benefits. But is his shtick wearing thin? After the much-hyped “Longlegs,” his stock has been dwindling. Will Keeper find an audience? It was made for only $8M, so chances are it’ll be in the green by the end of its run.
Yet Neon continues to give him the green light on new projects. A source close to Neon tells me that “Keeper” isn’t coming out on Halloween — which would have been a prime slot — because Perkins is currently in the middle of shooting yet another film for the indie studio. This one’s titled “The Young People.” Given the lesser-known actors involved, I assume its budget will again be under $10M.
Hey, if Perkins can keep churning these out and they keep turning a profit, big or small, Neon will keep greenlighting his projects. For now, all eyes are on “Keeper,” which is banking on the horror crowd to show up in theaters on November 14.
