Review for The Lodgers

Rating: 6

Release Date: February 23, 2018

Director: Brian O'Malley

Main Actors: Charlotte Vega, David Bradley and Moe Dunford

Country of origin: Ireland

1 hour 32 minutes

Summary (lots and lots of spoilers)

Irish twins, Rachel and Edward, live shut away from the rest of society in their dilapidated family mansion. They have huge debts and cannot afford to manage their estate any longer but the property has some rules of its own that does not permit them to sell....be in bed by midnight's bell, never let a stranger through your door, never leave each other alone... If these rules are broken the house and the spirits, the lodgers, come to punish them.

When Rachel and Edward turn 18, Rachel longs to leave the house and its curse behind a curse that we later learn affects not only her and her brother but her parents and all their family before them. We also discover that Rachel's parents and grand parents and great grandparents etc. were all twins that married and later all killed themselves by walking into the lake that surrounds the estate. Edward is terrified of the house and its rules but Rachel simply wants to escape and live a normal life. The problem is if she escapes Edward will be punished by the lodgers in her place.

Rachel falls for a war veteran, Sean, in town who was injured in the war and brings him into her world of horror. He tries to save her but unfortunately in order to do so he ends up breaking the rules by entering the house after midnight. He and Rachel are dragged by the curse into the depths of the lake through a trapdoor in the house. Rachel is allowed to swim to her freedom while Sean is pulled to the bottom by the Lodgers. After that Rachel is freed and her brother awaits the Lodgers to punish him for her escape.

Review

I thought this movie had an original story but there was very little suspense and I never really felt scared during it. I enjoyed the 1920's Irish backdrop but would have enjoyed it a little more if the Irish culture were somehow included in the story line. I had a hard time understanding why Rachel was freed from her family curse in the end but I assume it has something to do with he outsider boyfriend sacrificing himself for her. Nice story a little underdeveloped but definitely worth a watch.

In case you have not seen the movie yet here's a trailer!

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