Watch The Lodgers

In the Gothic horror movie, The Lodgers, we are introduced to twins Edward and Rachel who live in an isolated mansion in rural Ireland. The brother and sister duo share a dark secret and abide by three strict financial rules which must be obeyed or face the wrath of otherworldly entities. The story begins as Edward (Bill Milner) kills himself, leaving Rachel (Charlotte Vega) alone in the world, destined to live by the same cursed rules. As the twins approach their 18th birthday, their troubled past begins to catch up with them. They start to experience strange occurrences within their house and encounter a young man, Sean (Eugene Simon), who introduces Rachel to the real world, including desires and experiences outside of what she has ever known.

Rachel is drawn to Sean and starts to break one of the family’s rules. However, this brings forth a dark entity that has been consuming their family over the years. As events take a sinister turn, Rachel is thrust into a race against time to save her soul, Sean’s life, and free herself and her ancestors from their sordid past.

The movie exudes gothic qualities from start to finish due to director Brian O'Malley’s meticulous attention to details in crafting an eerie and gloomy atmosphere. It presents a unique interpretation of the haunted-house storyline, different from the traditional settings and themes explored by horror films.

The performances are top-notch and bring the emotions to the forefront. Charlotte Vega as Rachel brings vulnerability to her character, yet showcases strength in the way she strives to do what she believes is right. Bill Milner brings depth to Edward, even though his character appears briefly in the movie. Eugene Simon plays his role excellently as the non-threatening love interest, Sean.

The film boasts of beautiful cinematography, where the camera lingers on the beauty and elegance of the majestic structure. The house is well presented as the primary antagonist taking on a dark and sinister personality that terrifies more than any traditional monster.

The Lodgers has an intriguing storyline that has improved in the horror genre while incorporating the necessary elements without overusing them. Although, one can expect the usual tropes of dramatic lightning and spectral sound effects, O’Malley eschews any cheap jump-scares and relies on tension and emotional depth to drive the narrative.

The Lodgers takes horror cinema to a higher platform with its perfect combination of aesthetics and spine-chilling horror. The narrative is complex but engaging with relatable characters that audiences will feel invested in. With its eerie and gothic visuals, this is one of the must-watch films for horror enthusiasts who are looking for something different.

The Lodgers is a 2018 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.1 and a MetaScore of 52.