'The Lodge' Movie Review

From Austrian directing duo Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz, The Lodge is the story of brother and sister Aidan (Jaeden Martell, aka Jaeden Lieberher) and Mia (Lia McHugh). Their parents are separated, and when their father, Richard (Richard Armitage), informs their mother, Laura (Alicia Silverstone), that he intends to marry his girlfriend, Grace (Riley Keough), she commits suicide. The kids now resent both Grace and their father, as they blame them both for what happened to their mom. When their dad tells Aidan and Mia that Grace will be joining them at their lodge in the mountains for Christmas, the two siblings are furious, so when Richard has to go back to the house for a couple days, tensions run high and are only made worse by their isolation.

Fiala and Franz's previous film, Goodnight Mommy (which I still have yet to see, but have heard nothing but great things), didn't get quite as much play or acclaim in the States, but it was well-received by indie horror outlets and solidified the pair as horror auteurs. With The Lodge being their first English-language film, it was hyped up quite a bit. I am happy to report that the hype was entirely deserved, because The Lodge is awesome. Be forewarned, it is one of the bleakest g**damn movies I've ever seen. But, much like Rosemary’s Baby or The Descent, it's lack of compromise in tone is a major part of why the horror is so effective. This isn't an old-fashioned creature feature or a fun, yet disposable, slasher. This is a cold, disturbing portrait of the cruelty of which mankind is capable, and it's an incredibly effective one.

I, like plenty of other people, first became aware of Riley Keough in Mad Max: Fury Road (after which I realized “oh yeah, she was in Magic Mike”). I was truly blown away by her in this movie. A large part of her character is her grappling with PTSD as a result of growing up in a cult. This is, of course, further worsened by the kids hating her and the guilt therein. A majority of the film rests on her shoulders, and she knocks it out of the park. Actually, every single actor in this film gives one of their best performances to date. Both of the kids are really impressive. I had seen Jaeden in It, Knives Out, Midnight Special, and several other films. This is probably the heaviest material I’ve seen him work with, and he nails it. Lia McHugh is absolutely incredible. I have not seen her in anything else, but I’ll have to be on the lookout for her now, because she gives one of the most intense, heartbreaking performances I’ve ever seen a child give. Richard Armitage also gets some great moments, particularly towards the end. Alicia Silverstone, despite not having a ton of screen time, is superbly powerful, and it’s most definitely a far cry from Clueless.

This is a remarkably unsettling film, and for a variety of reasons. The tension is always present, and the atmosphere is especially ominous and discordant. There's a scene in which Grace and the kids are watching John Carpenter's The Thing (one of my favorite movies of all time). While a tad on the nose, this was a clear indicator of the intended mood. The inescapable sense of dread is paired with a literally inescapable setting. Both films feature characters who are in a remote setting in the bitter cold, and none of them know exactly what's going on or whom they can trust, nor does the audience. In The Thing's case, of course, there was an alien creature killing them. In The Lodge, it's not quite as straightforward. There's no monster or killer on the loose, but something is horribly wrong, and our characters are completely vulnerable. Another aspect of the film that adds to the horror is its commentary on toxic religious teachings. As I said, Grace is the survivor of a Christian extremist cult, so she's still dealing with plenty of trauma. In addition to this, one of the most heartbreaking moments of the entire film is a scene following Laura's funeral. Laura had apparently raised the kids in a very fundamentalist Christian church, so because she committed suicide, Mia is found in her room by her dad sobbing uncontrollably, as she was taught that those who commit suicide cannot go to Heaven. This is a belief that many churches still teach. As one who grew up in the buckle of the Bible Belt, I've seen the destruction that ultra-conservative Christianity causes, so this struck a particularly familiar chord with me. There is some other religious imagery in the film, but some of that goes into spoiler territory.

I'll go ahead and issue a trigger warning for this film (if it wasn't already evident). This is a harsh, terrifying movie. It does not shy away from the topics of suicide and emotional abuse, and these things are depicted without any sort of glossiness or subtle suggestion. It's right in front of you. In this context, though, I found it very admirable. It makes for a great antithesis to the more conventional, stylized horror that more commonly get wide releases (not that there's anything wrong with that kind of movie).

Now, one thing that is a bit unfortunate about The Lodge is that it will inevitably draw comparisons to 2018's Hereditary. There are some similar story beats, the films have similar tones and themes, and both prominently feature a dollhouse (albeit for different purposes). This was probably one of the reasons why this film's release date was pushed back, because, to my knowledge, said similarities are purely coincidental. Once one is able to dismiss these parallels, it should be fairly easy to view The Lodge as its own work.

Fiala and Franz's The Lodge is a fantastic, and truly disturbing, work of horror that, while not the easiest view, offers a twisted family drama that never fails to keep its audience on edge. With landmark performances by Riley Keough and Lia McHugh, and a fearless objection to compromising its unsettling vision, this is a film that lures you in with its hellish atmosphere and keeps you on your toes the entire time.

SCORE: 5/5