Caddo Lake Movie Review: Someone involved in the making of Caddo Lake must have seen a certain series on Netflix and decided to make a film inspired by it for Max. I say this because, while this M Night Shyamalan-backed supernatural mystery drama is intriguing as its mystery deepens, it becomes a bit too familiar once you figure out what’s happening at the lake if you have seen the series. From there, it’s easier to connect the dots. I won’t reveal the series’ name because it would spoil the movie’s baffling mystery. Dylan O’Brien Birthday Special: From ‘The Maze Runner’ to ‘The Outfit’; Here Are a Few Top Performances of the Actor That You Need To Watch
Caddo Lake is an actual lake in Texas, known for alleged sightings of Bigfoot. There’s no Bigfoot in this film, written and directed by Celine Held and Logan George. Instead, Caddo Lake revolves around a strange anomaly that affects the lives of two seemingly unconnected individuals who live near the bayou. Ellie (Eliza Scanlen) is a teenager with a dysfunctional relationship with her mother, Celeste (Lauren Ambrose), and little regard for her stepfather, though she dotes on her half-sister, Anna (Caroline Falk). When Anna goes missing after Ellie storms out of their home, Ellie begins to experience strange anomalies near a certain part of the marsh, which may be linked to her sister’s disappearance.
Then there’s Paris (Dylan O’Brien), a morose young man who cleans debris from the lake for a living. Still haunted by his mother’s death, he’s struggling in his relationship with his girlfriend, Cee (Diana Hopper). Paris, too, begins to feel uneasy about a certain area of the bayou, suspecting that the anomalies are connected to his mother’s death. The rest of the film explores how these two mysteries intertwine.
Watch the Trailer of ‘Caddo Lake’:
The first hour of Caddo Lake unfolds at a sombre, deliberate pace, allowing the dual mysteries to build momentum. It requires patience, but thanks to the suspense and strong performances from Dylan O’Brien and Eliza Scanlen, your attention is held. I appreciated how the film makes the most of its natural setting, using the marshy landscapes and lighting to deepen the mystery.
A Still From Caddo Lake (Photo Credits: Max)
Don’t expect all the answers, though. Unlike the series that seemingly inspired this film, the root cause of the anomaly remains unsolved. But Caddo Lake isn’t about that. Instead, it focuses on how this anomaly creates an unexpected bond between the two protagonists, a connection that transcends normal dimensions. There are even scenes where a bond is shown forming, only to be severed – quite literally.
A Still From Caddo Lake (Photo Credits: Max)
As I mentioned, the first hour of Caddo Lake is a slow burn, but once the protagonists find themselves fully immersed in the lake’s eerie mystery, the film becomes riveting. If you’ve seen the Netflix series in question, you’ll likely predict where the story is heading. Still, as the protagonists find themselves in unexpected places and discover answers to their harrowing questions in surprising ways, I remained invested in their journeys and even though I sensed that a happy ending might not await them, I found their troubling experiences compelling. Beneath the fog and mystery, Caddo Lake is actually a story about hope and acceptance, albeit one wrapped in twisted human relationships shaped by traumas no therapist could ever untangle.
‘Caddo Lake’ Movie Review – Final Thoughts
Caddo Lake is not at all perfect and may still leave you with unanswered questions in the end, but that’s part of its eerie charm. It’s a slow burn that doesn’t rely on cheap thrills or overexplaining itself. Instead, it lets the unsettling atmosphere and the emotional journeys of its characters take centre stage through its exploration of grief, trauma, and the interpersonal connections that can emerge from the unknown. Caddo Lake is streaming on Max and in India on JioCinema.
(The above story first appeared on Today News 24 on Oct 11, 2024 09:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website todaynews24.top).