M. Night Shyamalan should stay in the producer’s chair, because although Caddo Lake is not a perfect film, it is a twisted and clever mystical drama that is absolutely worth the hour and a half.
A film entitled Caddo Lake appeared out of nowhere on Max’s program, which, based on the description, doesn’t really seem like more than the usual dozen crime films with horror elements. Based on the trailer, you could feel that there would be some twist in the story, but even so, you didn’t have the feeling that you had to watch it. And this is where the classic saying comes in: don’t judge at first!
Caddo Lake starts with a very simple basic story: an 8-year-old girl disappears at a lake and this causes significant changes in the lives of several people. It is not possible to reveal more about the story, because any element of it would be a serious spoiler. Because Caddo Lake, contrary to the labels on Max’s surface, is not a horror or even a thriller at all. This is a mystical drama with some serious twists.
But luckily, unlike most of the films that Shyamalan has been involved in, these have an explanation and are not pulled out of nowhere. The scenario of Caddo Lake builds up very nicely and although the first hour may seem a bit boring, the last half hour speeds up very nicely and we just scratch our heads during the events. And most of the things you’ve seen before make sense.
And for that, you need actors like Dylan O’Brien, who gives perhaps the best performance of his life in the role of Paris, who struggles with his conscience. His mother’s death shook him and he is unable to let go of the event, which otherwise destroys his own life. The other main character of the film is Eliza Scanlen, who lost her father and because of this, the teenager does not know what to do with her mother and her new partner.
The environment is also very special: the world’s largest swamp cypress forest can be found in the area of Caddo Lake, which exists in reality and is considered mystical by the local residents and Native Americans. Thus, this marshy area provides a particularly eerie environment for the events. And the cinematography is impeccable, Lowell A. Meyer excelled here again after Knocking in the Shack.
Caddo Lake is definitely a big surprise for me, because it won’t be a cult or classic film, but I will gladly watch it again and pay attention to the details to notice the minor logical flaws. Because they are there, but overall they don’t spoil the experience.
And Max should just continue this line, because while bad movies are constantly arriving on the big screen (Joker: Madness for Two, Megalopolis, The Raven), HBO now has plenty to watch (City of Horrors, The Franchise, Penguin, Exit , My dream is a home) and I wonder when the trend will return to cinemas. Mosolyogj 2, Conclave and Venom are coming – The last round may cause a surprise – but whether with a positive or negative sign is still a question. 7,5/10
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To Caddo-tó (Caddo Lake) dubbed, American mystical drama, 99 minutes, 2024 Not recommended for people under 14! Director: Logan George, Celine Held Dylan O’Brien (Paris) |
Source: sg.hu
