REVIEW - The Caretaker (Directed by Luke Tedder)

Born in Woking, England, Luke Tedder (A Long Way from Home, On the Cusp, The Last Job, Limbo, All Folds Barred, Precognition) is an award-winning filmmaker, and founder of Landa Pictures, a production company specialising in making original short films.

Tedder has created over 15 short films, and The Caretaker is his second feature film effort, after the 2018 sci-fi action movie Precognition - which also stars Ben Probert (Prime Cut, On the Cusp, Limbo, Holby City, Luther, Precognition, Bob Marley: One Love) - who takes the lead role in this, Tedder's latest feature-length movie.

From Landa Pictures, and written and directed by Tedder, The Caretaker has created waves within a few short months of its debut on the film festival circuit, scooping a tonne of awards already.

With a run time of 1 hour 57 minutes, it's a lengthy affair - a brave ask of the average stream-browsing, channel-hopping televiewer or film buff, in an age where our attention spans seem increasingly wired for short-form content - but even with this in mind, The Caretaker is so engaging and gripping from the outset that it held my full attention from start to finish.

The Caretaker is a dark feature film with big budget vibes, that tells the story of the shy and reclusive Eddie Hartwood (excellently played by the afforementioned Ben Probert), a mute - who, unable to speak, has limited job prospects and is forced to take a job as the caretaker at Lockbridge Academy - a posh and isolated private school, after the death of his mother.

The mysterious and powerful aristocratic Aberdeen family own and run the Lockbridge Academy on the English coast, which seems to harbour a sinister secret. Our quiet and vulnerable protagonist Eddie is immediately on the backfoot with his new employers who casually patronise, ridicule, and look down their noses at him - treating him as somewhat of an outcast.

And as if his unwelcoming welcome wasn't bad enough, it isn't long before the occurrences of strange and spooky events at the school begin to raise Eddie's suspicions that all may not be as it seems - but without any friends, and without a voice to ask questions or raise an alarm, things don't look too promising for Eddie... Enter Marie, the cleaner at Lockbridge Academy, a beautiful blonde American woman, played by Mackenzie Larsen (Vacancy, Wake Up) who after being introduced to Eddie takes him under her wing.

Eddie and Marie soon become good friends, and after mysterious deaths and sightings of apparitions, find themselves looking for clues to uncover the Aberdeen family's sinister secret - but could Eddie have a dark secret of his own?

Their blossoming friendship does not go unnoticed, and the menacing, arrogant and smarmy Charles Aberdeen 3rd, played by Scott Hume (PREMature, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, The Crown, Apartment 7A) is overcome with jealousy as we learn of his infatuation with Marie, and an earlier failed romance between them.

Eddie is oblivious to this rivalry, and the danger he may be in - and as he and Marie continue to investigate the unusual goings-on at Lockbridge Academy, this too is noticed by Charles Aberdeen 3rd - now adding paranoia to his jealousy, a murderous cocktail of emotions...

Probert's outstanding performance as a mute, entirely communicating by non-verbal means is nothing short of impeccable - his portrayal of this debilitating disability is entirely convincing - and combined with the wonderful performances of the remaining cast, the artful cinematography, the stunning locations, the carefully composed music, the detailed character development, the clear narrative, this incredible feature film is engaging and suspenseful, and when not pulling on your heart strings, it will have you on the edge of your seat.

Kudos to Tedder for directing this fantastic masterclass in cinematic storytelling, which has huge potential for commercial success. This movie will find an audience among fans of thrillers, horrors, and dramas - and among those who know a bloody good film when they see one!

"Quite possibly the best feature film our festival has ever seen!" - Carl Marshall (jury member, Fortean Film Festival).