The Lodgers: Beautiful and deeply disturbing

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: RAVEN BANNER ENTERTAINMENT/ EPIC PICTURES RELEASING/NETFLIX
With its interesting plotline that keeps you guessing, The Lodgers is a mindmessing horror film to check off your viewing list.

Originally featured at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), The Lodgers, directed by Brian O'Malley, has finally been released onto Netflix for all of Canada to experience.

This eerie period piece captivates you from the moment the movie starts, which is surprising for this type of film. Horror period pieces are either snooze fests (like The Woman in Black) or really well done (like Crimson Peak); there is never an in-between.

The Lodgers takes place back in 1920 Ireland, where a brother and sister share their existence in a decaying family estate. However, this isn't some normal estate; every night, the house becomes occupied by a sinister force: the lodgers.

The siblings have to follow three rules: Being in bed by midnight, do not permit an outsider within the house and if one tries to escape, the other will suffer. It isn't until young Rachel (the sister) becomes infatuated with a local boy that they start to break the rules and come to realize how serious the punishments are.

What The Lodgers managed to do so well was keep your mind spinning through the entire film. The story developed at a beautiful pace and was never rushed so it created this perfect sense of mystery. Instead of rushing right into the curse and its origin, it built up the main characters first and made you actually care and almost feel sorry for the characters.

Even when it came to the evil spirits that haunted the house, a lot was left to your imagination. There were no silly-looking zombies and ghost creatures which can often take away from a movie's realism.

Another aspect that made this film so effective was its ability to stay true to a horror period piece. From the costumes and set décor, to the expertly crafted script, The Lodgers didn't miss a single detail. It even featured this underlying romantic motif (even though it was pretty disturbing) that added a softness to the film, while not discounting the film's overall unnerving tone.

However, while the film is deeply disturbing, it is not overly scary. The Lodgers is one of those films that messes with the mind, but has very few “pop-up scares”. If you're looking for a film that is going to make you jump out of your seat, this is not the one for you.

If you are a fan of films like Winchester or Crimson Peak, then chances are you will love The Lodgers. Even if you aren't a fan of horror movies, but enjoy a good period piece, then I would still give this one a shot as it is expertly crafted and only mildly scary at best.