UPDATE: The Rotten Tomatoes score has risen to 63%. On Metacritic, it sits at 59, based on just 11 reviews, since Neon chose not to screen the film widely.
EARLIER: Turns out, Bong Joon-ho, Guillermo del Toro and all those marquee directors, who praised Osgood Perkins’ latest, might have been wrong after all.
You have to wonder how much longer Osgood Perkins will remain in Neon’s good graces. The indie studio has backed his last four films, but there’s been a noticeable downward trajectory along the way.
The latest, “Keeper,” had its review embargo lift today, just hours before Thursday previews are set to begin. That’s usually a bad sign. I wasn’t even invited to any press screening, mostly due to Neon’s decision to “not screen it widely. IndieWire calls it Perkins’ “worst movie yet.”
“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. According to the logline, an “unspeakable evil” arrives, unearthing long-buried secrets tied to the cabin.
This is actually the second film Perkins has released this year, following “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 performed solidly, earning $68M against a modest $10M budget.
That’s the thing about Perkins—he makes films cheaply and quickly (no more than four weeks of shooting), and Neon usually 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 will turn a profit by the end of its run.
Neon is, in fact, banking on more Perkins in the future. He’s currently shooting “The Young People,” set for release next year.
If Perkins can keep churning these films out and they continue to make money, big or small, Neon will keep greenlighting his projects. For now, all eyes are on “Keeper,” which is counting on the horror crowd to show up in theaters on November 14.
