Oscillating Between Atmosphere and Logic in 'Keeper'
Osgood Perkins' latest endeavor, 'Keeper', is an experimental horror film that leans heavily on atmospheric tension. The opening sequence sets the tone for a movie that seamlessly blends social commentary with supernatural terror, drawing parallels between the serial killer genre and the pitfalls of monogamy.
At its core, 'Keeper' revolves around Liz (Tatiana Maslany), who accompanies her boyfriend Malcolm (Rossif Sutherland) to his family's luxurious cabin in upstate New York. Their getaway seems idyllic, but it slowly unravels into a descent into madness. The film masterfully crafts an air of unease with its subtle pacing and unsettling sound design.
However, the narrative soon takes a detour from logic, introducing trippy elements that disrupt the flow of the story. Perkins' decision to incorporate unconventional narrative techniques may be meant to mirror the unpredictable nature of serial killers, but it ultimately leads to confusion.
The performances are solid, with Rossif Sutherland delivering a convincing portrayal of Malcolm's brooding intensity. Tatiana Maslany, however, struggles to find her footing as Liz, whose character feels somewhat one-dimensional.
Visually, 'Keeper' shines with Jeremy Cox's cinematography evoking the austere beauty of the woodland setting. The supporting cast adds depth to the narrative, particularly Birkett Turton's portrayal of Darren, Malcolm's cousin and a suspect in the series of gruesome murders.
Despite its atmospheric moments, 'Keeper' falters when it comes to coherent storytelling. Perkins' experimental approach can be both captivating and disorienting, leaving viewers questioning what is real and what is part of Liz's increasingly fragmented psyche.
Ultimately, 'Keeper' feels like an unfinished project – a film that showcases promise but fails to commit to its vision. While the cinematography and performances are commendable, the meandering narrative and lack of logic make it a challenging watch. Fans of experimental horror may find 'Keeper' thought-provoking, but for those seeking a more conventional serial killer thriller, there are better options available.
Osgood Perkins' latest endeavor, 'Keeper', is an experimental horror film that leans heavily on atmospheric tension. The opening sequence sets the tone for a movie that seamlessly blends social commentary with supernatural terror, drawing parallels between the serial killer genre and the pitfalls of monogamy.
At its core, 'Keeper' revolves around Liz (Tatiana Maslany), who accompanies her boyfriend Malcolm (Rossif Sutherland) to his family's luxurious cabin in upstate New York. Their getaway seems idyllic, but it slowly unravels into a descent into madness. The film masterfully crafts an air of unease with its subtle pacing and unsettling sound design.
However, the narrative soon takes a detour from logic, introducing trippy elements that disrupt the flow of the story. Perkins' decision to incorporate unconventional narrative techniques may be meant to mirror the unpredictable nature of serial killers, but it ultimately leads to confusion.
The performances are solid, with Rossif Sutherland delivering a convincing portrayal of Malcolm's brooding intensity. Tatiana Maslany, however, struggles to find her footing as Liz, whose character feels somewhat one-dimensional.
Visually, 'Keeper' shines with Jeremy Cox's cinematography evoking the austere beauty of the woodland setting. The supporting cast adds depth to the narrative, particularly Birkett Turton's portrayal of Darren, Malcolm's cousin and a suspect in the series of gruesome murders.
Despite its atmospheric moments, 'Keeper' falters when it comes to coherent storytelling. Perkins' experimental approach can be both captivating and disorienting, leaving viewers questioning what is real and what is part of Liz's increasingly fragmented psyche.
Ultimately, 'Keeper' feels like an unfinished project – a film that showcases promise but fails to commit to its vision. While the cinematography and performances are commendable, the meandering narrative and lack of logic make it a challenging watch. Fans of experimental horror may find 'Keeper' thought-provoking, but for those seeking a more conventional serial killer thriller, there are better options available.
. They're trying to pass off that trippy nonsense as some kind of artistic statement, but really it's just an excuse to confuse the audience and make them question what's real. And don't even get me started on Tatiana Maslany's character - she's got all these subtle hints at her backstory, but you can barely notice 'em because they're buried under a mess of weirdness 
. I mean, is this really supposed to be some kind of commentary on monogamy or serial killers? It just feels like an excuse to get creative with the narrative and ignore logic altogether 
. Mark my words, there's more to this film than meets the eye...
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. I get that she's supposed to be unraveling or something, but it never quite clicked for me. And what's up with that narrative detour? It's like Perkins was trying to be all clever and stuff 
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and the supporting cast is pretty solid. But if you're gonna make a film that's all about atmosphere and tension, don't just phone it in and not put in the work on the storytelling side of things 
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its like u can feel the tension and unease from the get go. Tatiana Maslany is so talented btw 
but maybe liz could've been fleshed out more? i was kinda lost during those trippy parts 
but jerey cox's cinematography is everything 
overall its like u gotta be in the right mindset to watch this one 
. Just don't say I didn't warn you... 
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and I'm like totally torn about it 
. The cinematography by Jeremy Cox is stunning 
and the cast does a great job 
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and it's hard for me to follow the story 
. Liz's character feels kinda flat 
and Tatiana Maslany's performance is just okay 
trying to keep up with the narrative 
. The performances are solid 
, especially Rossif Sutherland and Birkett Turton 
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, it might be for you. But if you're looking for something more traditional, there are better options out there 
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. dont get me wrong, tatiana maslany is great as usual, but liz feels like a generic protagonist 
. and what's up with the trippy narrative? i mean, i get experimental horror, but this just feels like they're trying too hard to be edgy 
. overall, its a skippable watch imo 
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. Maybe fans of experimental horror will dig it, but for a straightforward serial killer flick, there are way better options out there 
i get what the director's tryna do w/ the trippy elements & all, but sometimes its like "what's goin on?" 
anywayz, the cinematography is straight fire 
My only gripe is that it felt like Perkins was tryin to do too much and ended up losin' focus. Still, if you're into that whole experimental horror vibe, I'd give it a shot 
, captures that eerie atmosphere perfectly. But yeah, sometimes less is more, and Perkins' experimental approach feels like it's trying too hard to be unique 
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tatiana maslany's character feels so underdeveloped and rossif sutherland's performance is the only one that's really consistent throughout. Perkins' decision to get all experimental with the narrative might've been cool at first but it just ends up being confusing 
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. if they had just stuck to what they knew, i think it would've been a solid watch 
. Still, there's something about 'Keeper' that's gonna linger with me... maybe it's the cinematography or just the whole vibe, but I'd def wanna watch it again 
But then, for me, things just got weird. Like, intentionally weird. I'm not sure if Perkins was going for some kinda meta commentary on how unpredictable serial killers are or what, but for me, it just felt like a bunch of trippy nonsense 
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. And Rossif Sutherland's performance as Malcolm is seriously chilling 
Anyway, I'm still gonna give 'Keeper' some points for being bold and trying something new