The Lodgers is an Irish horror drama out on Netflix now. The story is dark and twisted – in many ways. A slow-burner with a strong sense of style.

The Lodgers is out on Netflix now and the horror drama is worth your time. Yes, it is a slow-burner, but that only intensifies the goth style of the narrative.

Many horror fans will probably guess the plot twist way ahead of time. Still, this doesn’t take anything away from the overall horror experience.

There’s no doubt that The Lodgers isn’t for everyone. If you’re expecting jump scares and crazy ghost stories then this probably won’t be your cup of tea.

Strong young cast

The cast of The Lodgers is what makes it a movie worth watching. The three leading characters are portrayed by Charlotte Vega, Bill Milner, and Eugene Simon.

Charlotte Vega had her acting debut in [Rec]³: Génesis and generally has a lot of Spanish productions on her resume. She was born in Spain to British parents and grew up bilingual. In The Lodgers, she portrays the main protagonist.

Bill Milner played the young Erik in X-Men: First Class from 2011, but he rose to fame in 2007. He portrayed “Will Proudfoot” in the critically acclaimed Son of Rambow.

Eugene Simon is probably best known to most as Lancel Lannister in Game of Thrones.

Also, David Bradley plays one of the most interesting supporting characters. You’ll probably recognize him as Argus Filch from the Harry Potter franchise. Or maybe as Walder Frey from Game of Thrones or Abraham Setrakian from The Strain.

The Lodgers - Horror Movie on Netflix

Perfect Irish location

Of course, the cast is always important in making a movie work. But for The Lodgers, the mood is set by both the actors and the surrounding.

It almost feels as if the Irish backdrop is a character all on its own. Also, the movie is actually shot in one of Ireland’s most haunted houses. It’s a place called “Loftus Hall” and feels like worth a visit.

Well, if you’re into gorgeous old buildings that are famed for being haunted.

Watch The Lodgers on Netflix

Brian O’Malley directed The Lodgers. And he is no stranger to horror. However, his previous movie Let Us Prey had a lot more blood and gore – and was pretty awesome.

This is a very different kind of horror movie with more emphasis on drama rather than thriller, as it’s “supporting genre”.

David Turpin wrote the screenplay for The Lodgers and this is his very first credit, so we don’t know much about him. And – as I stated earlier – while the story is dark and twisted, it’s not exactly innovative.

In fact, it’s difficult not to be reminded of Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak. If you liked that movie, you should check out The Lodgers.

The Lodgers is out on Netflix in most countries now!

Details

Director: Brian O’Malley
Cast: Charlotte Vega, Bill Milner, Eugene Simon, Moe Dunford, David Bradley

Plot

1920, rural Ireland. Anglo Irish twins Rachel and Edward share a strange existence in their crumbling family estate. Each night, the property becomes the domain of a sinister presence (The Lodgers) which enforces three rules upon the twins: They must be in bed by midnight; They may not permit an outsider past the threshold; If one attempts to escape, the life of the other is placed in jeopardy.

I write reviews and recaps on Heaven of Horror. And yes, it does happen that I find myself screaming, when watching a good horror movie. I love psychological horror, survival horror and kick-ass women. Also, I have a huge soft spot for a good horror-comedy. Oh yeah, and I absolutely HATE when animals are harmed in movies, so I will immediately think less of any movie, where animals are harmed for entertainment (even if the animals are just really good actors). Fortunately, horror doesn't use this nearly as much as comedy. And people assume horror lovers are the messed up ones. Go figure!
Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard
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