Three people in a snowbound lodge
Richard plans to spend Christmas with his new partner Grace and his two children in a remote lodge. The children distrust her from the beginning. When Richard has to leave for a few days, the three remain alone together. Disturbing incidents worsen an already tense situation. I would rather reveal as little as possible about what follows.
The horror develops slowly
The Lodge is not a spectacle built from constant jump scares. Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala take an unhurried approach and make the atmosphere increasingly oppressive. The convincing performances help me take the situation seriously. I fear for the characters and also for where the story might lead. That uncertainty sustains the horror.
A film that plays with my trust
I repeatedly believe I understand what is happening before a new situation unsettles that certainty. For me, this has more impact than an openly displayed threat. The film gets under the skin and left an uncomfortable feeling that I needed time to process afterwards. That is precisely why retelling its twists in detail would be the wrong approach here.
Verdict
Viewers who enjoy atmospheric horror such as Hereditary or The Babadook can find much to appreciate in The Lodge. Its strength lies in slowly building uncertainty and an increasingly oppressive situation. I recommend it while deliberately leaving its crucial developments undisclosed. My rating is 6.5 out of 10.
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