31 Days of Halloween: Keeper

2025, Osgood Perkins (The Monkey) -- download

To remind, Kent rather dislikes Perkins, but we rather do enjoy his work. This movie was the second of two films he had out last year, the first being The Monkey and I guess we left this one for ... an unknown good reason? Given he doesn't have anything this year, I am glad we did. This flick is classic Perkins, stylish and chilling, but Kent will hate the derivative story of a cabin in the woods, a man with a dark secret, and something evil living in the house/woods. But one thing about watching horror movies is that derivative is expected; its about what you do with the subject at hand, and he does a satisfying job with this story of ancient pacts and weird shit.

Liz (Tatiana Maslany, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) and Malcom (Rossif Sutherland, Murder in a Small Town) are on their way to his "cabin in the woods" for a weekend away. They are a year into their relationship, one that is uncommon for her if we take anything from her phone conversations with her bestie. Its Perkins, so even the obvious way the two dote on each other is fraught with anxiety. Something is definitely up here, and we are led by the nose to expect it, but its not a reveal that will be the payout, but how we get there.

Turns out the "cabin" is one of those typical west coast wooded areas stylish architectural feature homes -- and breathe. We know from Gretel & Hansel, that Perkins has a knack for making architectural inherently disturbing, but this is a lovely home with... disturbing angles. As Liz tells bestie Maggie, the house is isolated yet revealing, no doors, the only one being to the bathroom and that has a wide open window with a view. And then there is the cake. Liz says she doesn't like chocolate, but Malcom insists, and she complies, in a disturbing, far from erotic smearing of the fork bite in her mouth. She doesn't complain, and later that night, she creeps down to grab the rest of the cake and fill her face. Note, it only has one slice taken from it; Malcom did not partake of this incredible chocolate cake that his absent caretaker always leaves for him.

It has an effect on her, which she has to deal with all on her own, because Malcom, a doctor in the city, has to rush off to deal with a coma patient. Liz is not happy, but understanding. Except, the cake's effect are continual; feelings of paranoia and emotional upset, constant flashes and premonitions regarding water and bloody faced women screaming. It is hard, as the viewer, to tell which are visions she is experiencing, and just scenes for our eyes only. Things only escalate when Malcom's cousin from across the way shows up with a bottle of Scotch and is surprised to find Liz there alone; well, alone and alive. His own GF was already taken by something in the trees. He tries to coerce his way in, to have drinks with Liz, but when she hides herself in the bathroom, something else emerges and ... well, bye bye Darren (Birkett Turton, iZombie).

When Malcom finally returns, he is also rather surprised to find Liz.... still alive.

Spoiler Territory, like I should need to say, as I spoil most everything in these 31 Days writeups.

The reveal. Evil spirits or forest creatures born of a forest... witch? And murderous immortal cousins who have lived off the spoils of whatever that witch spawned 200 years prior. Asshole, sacrificing male partners is at the level of Trope, these days in Horror. Given its not too far off the male-female dynamic these days (was it ever not?) that men would use women to get what they want, oft violently, its not surprising its used for Horror. because what else can be more horrific than something so easily believed. At least in fiction, women can as often get the opportunity to turn the tables and bring final punishment on the men in question.

I do love the way Perkins does things. The interesting camera angles and focuses on things over Liz's shoulders that are both unnerving and ... entirely innocent. He plays with the viewer. And then the actual monstrous things and people; fuck, those "children" were creepy looking, but ... who knows what they really looked like, because as Malcom said, they "presented as women" to Liz; I do wonder what the men saw. I was never "frightened" by anything, as he is prone to familiar patterns of horror, but his imagery is always impactful.