Nigel P Michael (Owen Szabo) and Julia (Elizabeth Kell) travel to the Rocky Mountains in order to spend a romantic few days alone together. A likable duo, their never-ending foreplay is nevertheless nauseating, and yet this is how directors Brad Helmink and John Rauschelbach feel they need to convey their feelings for each other.They meet proprietor Henry (Kevin McClatchy) amidst a carnage of general untidiness when they arrive. No hint of an apology forthcoming, Henry proves to be … a bit of a twit, really. Ignorant and arrogant yet formidable, he refers to the couples as 'kids', so it makes no sense when Michael subsequently tries to 'bond' with him by reminiscing about past sporting achievements and telling him how passionate a lover Julia is. As such, much of the couple's time together now becomes an awkward three-way thing.The well-being of the twosome isn't helped by the discovery of a dishevelled young girl Desi (Mandi Kreisher), seemingly kept prisoner in a locked room of the lodge. Why she hasn't made her presence known before now is made clear when her relationship with Henry – not his real name, by the way – is revealed.'The Lodge' is ultimately a well-made, nicely directed, convincingly acted horror thriller. There's a good slow build-up of menace aided immeasurably by the superbly hypnotic score by Yagmur Kaplan. Not the most original or ground-breaking story you'll ever know, but it makes no claims to be – although the DVD cover's proclamation 'The Shining meets Cabin in the Woods' is guilty of overselling its effectiveness.

firebird7478-223-619790 All I kept thinking of as I watched this movie was the line in the commercial that spoofs horror/triller movies, "Why can't we just get in the running car?!"I will give them credit, they got people to put up money to get their movie made, which isn't easy to do. They followed the standard formula...keep your locations to a minimum. Keep your characters to a minimum. Some times it works. Some times it doesn't. In this case it doesn't and the reason for me is the script.We know why Michael is bringing Julia to the lodge and it is done nicely and subtly in one quick shot. But, there is no rhyme or reason as to why the killer is a killer or why his child is as well. No background at all.What burned me is the dialog. I don't know why Michael would brag to a perfect stranger about his girlfriend's sexual prowess, as an example. Too much talking during the stalking process. The less said, the better, especially with all the "Why are your trying to kill us" clichés.Still, it gives hope to aspiring film makers that they, too, can get their film made. Stick to the formula, but come up with a better script.

saint_sophie Couple Michael and Julia spend a romantic weekend away at a lodge in the picturesque Rocky Mountains. They meet the caretaker, Henry - and instantly we sense there's something not quite right about him, judging by his peculiar mannerisms and actions. Therefore we are left with the premise of this couple being stuck in an isolated house in the middle of nowhere accompanied by a weirdo janitor who seemingly has a taste for venison and Julia's underwear - so something good is bound to happen, right?Wrong. A problem with this movie is that it has exhausted every cliché in the horror film book: young couple, isolation, strange man with ambiguous background. The entire film is bland, monotonous and contains absolutely zero tension and suspense. We are introduced to the dishevelled, ghostly 13-year-old girl Desi halfway through the movie, and it is never explained who she is or what she's doing there. The only purpose she seems to serve is an accomplice to Henry's murderous antics. Stuff basically 'happens' and there is no feeling of anticipation, no jumpy moments, no character development. The movie ends in the most cringeworthy, predictable way imaginable - so much that it was almost laughable. The acting isn't too dreadful as horror movies go, surprisingly - but that isn't enough to salvage this utter disgrace of a film.It's a great pity, as the front cover of the DVD and the plot outline look and sound fantastic. But don't be fooled by this. "A nerve shattering classic horror"? "The Shining meets Cabin in the Woods"? A tad bit of over-flattery there. Do yourself a favour, don't watch this movie, and watch (or re-watch) The Shining instead in order to appreciate what a good horror classic should accomplish.

gavin6942 As with many other horror stories, things seem to go wrong when you put any number of young people in the woods. With "The Lodge", this is no exception. A young couple, away from the world and set on a non-stop drug-fueled and sexually-charged romantic getaway, have rented the eponymous lodge. But plans go awry when they encounter the caretaker (soap opera guest star Kevin McClatchy), a friendly but seriously deranged woodsman.There is much good that can be said about "The Lodge". For a film that is starring and created by completely unknown people, I was impressed with the final product. The writer (Deb Havener) went through extra effort to create a background for the characters (drummer from a rich family with a music degree, for example). The directing is solid, although I question why there are so many shots of the fields (it seems some shots and the opening credits served no purpose other than to stretch out the length). Music, lighting and all the technical aspects were of a respectable quality (not Hollywood, but at least straight-to-DVD).The two male leads are on opposite ends of the spectrum in the talent department. The young lover was nothing special... he could have been anyone and have been played by anyone, I just had no reason to care about him. The caretaker, on the other hand, was dynamic and menacing. At times I felt he was creepy, at others I felt sorry for him, as he appeared more lonely than sadistic. The range and diversity of his emotions would be hard to put in one character and remain consistent, but yet this was achieved flawlessly. If there's one redeeming factor of this film, it's the caretaker.On a side note, this film raises questions about relationships that I'd like to touch upon (sorry, horror fans). We are clued in early on that the male lead plans on proposing to the female lead, and we have to give him credit for choosing a beautiful locale and a gorgeous woman. But yet, the constant fighting makes it clear they may not be ready for long term commitment. What is the message here? Are we saying that marriage proposals are good and can solve problems? Are we saying that stressful situations can draw people closer? As I often opine, didn't "Speed" teach us anything? The biggest problem with "The Lodge" is the sheer blandness. While there is a fair level of success in creating a creepy atmosphere, at the same time we are rather limited because there are only three key characters. Unlike other horror films, no one can die here or the film has to end prematurely. So the suspense has to be drawn out as long as possible, which works at times and fails at others. Time is also filled with countless sex scenes that go nowhere (sorry, guys). And if you want gore, you're not going to see much here (low body count equals low blood flow).I found "The Lodge" to be enjoyable and watchable (which, these days, is more than I can say for many films). But there was nothing here I haven't seen in a dozen other films. I give Deb Havener credit for the development but her plot writing needs work. For another story involving two people alone in a rented room, see "Vacancy". The sheer intensity of that one makes "The Lodge" look like a Lifetime Network film. And that's not good.