The Lodge - A Movie Review

We have to figure out a way to get out of here before we freeze in this cabin.

The Lodge is a 2019 film. After the death of their mother, two siblings are not fond of their soon-to-be step-mom. Believing he should get his children better acquainted, they go to a remote cabin for the winter holiday. Only, frightening occurrences happen, testing relationships.

Boy, did this film teach me that it is never a good idea to trick anybody. The Lodge is a foreboding story. My eyes were locked to the screen the entire time. Containing a dark story, The Lodge occupies a message for all.

After seeing his incredible performance in IT, I was drawn to watching this film because of Jaeden Martell. Once again, Martell proves that he is a terrific young actor. Martell and Lia McHugh were tremendous. They built a great sibling dynamic, containing heartwarming interactions. I did not agree with most of their actions, but that’s what the film is all about.

The dynamic between the family is demonstrated as soon as the film starts. You can just feel the tension. Props go to the actors for manifesting that. Although she has minimal screen time, Alicia Silverstone was excellent. She got into the broken mindset of her character. No matter how small your part is, make it memorable.

Richard Armitage had a unique role in the film. Depending on how you felt about Richard, he is just trying to be a good dad. For story purposes, he leaves midway. I was still impressed with how he played the character, along with his interactions with the kids. Hoping that everyone will come to terms and get along, a much different scenario occurs.

The introduction to Grace is one of my favorite parts of The Lodge. We don’t fully meet Grace until twenty minutes into the film. Technically, we do beforehand, but only through faraway or distorted shots. Filmmakers did an impressive job with the setup of the film.

Riley Keough dove into the mindset of Grace. Finding out that she has a dark past, Aiden and Mia use that against her. Although the film is not fully in her perspective, I understood where she is coming from. Nobody knows the battles you have fought. Keough is so chilling in her performance, that I found myself backing away from the screen.

Camera angles were planned out extremely well. The camera looms into the room or characters’ faces. More films need to invest in scenes without any dialogue. The startling music adds to the tense atmosphere.

For some shots, a dollhouse was used to configure a dark scene that was happening right inside the lodge. Filmmakers made everyday objects appear threatening.

Sevein Fiala and Veronika Franz got inside audiences’ minds. What is real? What is a fantasy? They worked hard to capture startling camera angles. The dynamic between Grace, Aiden, and Mia is essential. This film is all about character study.

The horror of The Lodge is all about fear of the unknown. Trapped in isolation with your surroundings changing and significant items going missing, The Lodge messes with your mind. Fiala and Franz succeeded in connecting to perspective.

We can never judge somebody before getting to know them. The Lodge nails that moral in your head. Making you feel comfortable inside this home trapped in a snowstorm, even you feel the chill. And the fear.

The Lodge had me glued to the screen. Everything from the storyline, characters, and filmmaking delivered an effective story. I deeply recommend that you find The Lodge and give it a watch.