While Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 biopic Elvis has its moment on the Netflix US top ten list in the tenth spot, across the Atlantic, a psychological horror flick starring Presley’s granddaughter, Riley Keough, has emerged as a winner. Keough’s 2019 venture, The Lodge, is currently basking at the top of Netflix’s film charts in the UK.
The Lodge is a haunting psychological thriller directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, the visionary duo behind the critically acclaimed Goodnight Mommy. The film, written by Franz, Fiala, and Sergio Casci, revolves around the eerie and unsettling events that unfold when a soon-to-be stepmother, Grace Marshall, played by Keough, finds herself isolated with her fiancé’s two children in a remote winter lodge.
Keough’s portrayal of Grace, a woman grappling with her own traumatic past and the challenges of bonding with her fiancé’s children, is nothing short of chilling. Her ability to convey a sense of vulnerability and unease is eerily unsettling.
The Lodge draws inspiration from the ’60s and early ’70s Italian giallo films, echoing the atmospheric tension and psychological intricacies synonymous with the genre, where slasher violence often seamlessly meets eroticism. Much like the classics of that era, the film employs a deliberate and stylised approach, emphasising visual aesthetics, disquieting soundscapes, and a sense of impending dread.
The deliberate pacing, coupled with Keough’s performance, reminiscent of iconic giallo heroines, helps create a cinematic experience that harks back to the golden age of European suspense cinema.
Joining Keough in the cast are Jaeden Martell and Lia McHugh, who play the troubled children at the centre of the eerie tale. The film also stars Richard Armitage as Grace’s fiance, Richard, and Alicia Silverstone as Richard’s recently deceased wife, Laura.
Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala’s direction ensures that The Lodge is more than your typical horror venture; it is a psychological exploration of trauma. It may have logical loopholes but goes beyond the usual cheap thrills so many from the genre fall prey to.
For those who relish the thrill of a good psychological horror, you can tune into The Lodge on Netflix now. But first, catch the trailer here:
