The Lodge – Hulu Review (4/5)

THE LODGE is out on Hulu now and you should definitely check it out. The horror drama is a slow-burner but that’s a good thing. And don’t worry, it certainly delivers on intense psychological horror in the end.  Read our full The Lodge review here and watch it on Hulu!

The Lodge is out on Hulu now! This is one horror drama, you should give a chance if you enjoy character-based plots with lots of mystery and a slow-burn.

Because, yes, this horror movie is definitely a slow-burner.

To me, this is a good thing, but you really should also set the stage for watching it. Make sure it’s dark and that the volume is up pretty high. You don’t want to miss out on the nuances with this one.

Also, while it’s a slow-burner, it does also contain lots of psychological horror. Continue reading our full The Lodge review below.

The wonderful young horror cast

The cast of The Lodge really is stellar in so many ways. And especially in terms of having actors with experience from amazing horror movies. Mostly, the plot revolves around the kids, Aidan and Mia, who are portrayed by Jaeden Martell and Lia McHugh respectively.

Lia McHugh might still be very young, but she’s already been in an episode of Into the Dark. Also, she has co-starred in two horror movies. She was in Along Came the Devil (aka Tell Me Your Name) and Totem. We’ll also see her in the upcoming Marvel movie The Eternals (2021) alongside superstars such as Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek.

You might like: Our review of Totem here >

Obviously, Jaeden Martell is probably most recognizable from portraying the young Bill in the new IT movie adaptation. However, he also plays one of the leads in the Apple TV+ mini-series Defending Jacob. He is Jacob in that series and does a great job. Fortunately, the same can definitely be said for his work in The Lodge.

Recommended reading: Our review of the Apple TV PLus series Defending Jacob here >

Riley Keough is the star of The Lodge

However good the two young actors are (and they are good), the absolute star of The Lodge is still Riley Keough in my book. She portrays the future stepmom of the two kids, who ends up having to stay alone in a cabin with them. Let’s just say the kids are not big fans of their dad’s future wife. Not because she has done anything wrong, but simply because he’s divorcing their mom.

Riley Keough always gives amazing performances and this is no exception. She doesn’t even have to say a word and you’ll know what she’s conveying. Also, it’s pretty cool that we don’t really see her for the first good while of this movie.

In case you’re not sure who Riley Keough is, you might recognize her from the Netflix movie Earthquake Bird or the horror drama It Comes at Night (2017). Especially the latter is reminiscent of this movie in terms of style and pacing.

Also, Alicia Silverstone (The Killing of a Sacred Deer) is in The Lodge and plays a vital role in the beginning. So is Richard Armitage (The Stranger Netflix mini-series), even if he is off-screen for most of its runtime.

Watch The Lodge on Hulu now!

The Lodge was directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala. The duo previously directed the extremely fascinating Goodnight Mommy (org. title Ich see ich see) and the Die Trud segment of the horror anthology The Field Guide to Evil.

This latest movie is only their second feature film and the first one in English. Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala also wrote the screenplay along with Sergio Casci. In the past, Sergio Casci has worked mostly on TV series, but he did also write the 2011 thriller The Caller.

I don’t think The Lodge will be for everyone. However, if you enjoyed It Comes at Night, Hereditary, and (of course!) Goodnight Mommy, then I can’t imagine you won’t like this one. It’s definitely not a comfortable watch, but it draws you in and keeps you engaged with its creepy tone.

The Lodge is out on Hulu from May 5, 2020.

Details

Directors: Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz
Writers: Sergio Casci, Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz
Stars: Riley Keough, Jaeden Martell, Lia McHugh, Richard Armitage, Alicia Silverstone, Lola Reid, Katelyn Wells