The lodgers

Year of release : 2017

 

Run time : 1h34min

 

Genre : Horror

 

 

In 1920's rural Ireland Irish twins Rachel and Edward live secluded in a beautiful mansion which is falling apart. Their estate includes a forest which leads to the house and a lake which holds ghosts.

 

The movie opens with Rachel waking up by the lake, minutes before midnight, running to her room, as after midnight, her and her brother aren't allowed to be outside their rooms, the ghosts roaming free on the property.

 

The twins live by three weird rules : be in bed by midnight, no one from outside can get inside the house, or even befriend them,and never leave each other alone, as the one left behind will be punished.

They have a nursery rhyme they have to sing, and from it, it's obvious they are never to be with an outsider, just each other, fulfilling the 200 years family curse.

 

The sister wants to see the world, she likes to spend time outside, while the brother is an agoraphobic,afraid to even leave the house, keeping the curtains shut.

 

They just turned 18,meaning the curse is gonna claim them, and the sister is the one providing for them, meaning, she's the one going to buy food (they live on this large property,yet they don't know how to grow their own food and cook!), just that all the money is gone (since they're not allowed to go outside or bring anyone in, how are they supposed to make money?! stupid rules!)

She is told by the lady giving her food, it's the last time she gives her food on credit. The man taking care of the family estate comes to tell them they have no money left in their trust found, and they have to sell the house. SPOILERS How Edward deals with it is, he lets the ghosts k1ll him,as if another is not gonna replace him, coming to take the house!

 

Rachel meets a war veteran, the son of the lady who gives her food, and they both seem to like each other. Rachel wants to run away with him, but he doesn't understand why would she want to leave her beautiful estate, telling her the world is a scary place,as he's seen war. So,it's these two people ,who've both seen a type of horror, him an outside devastating war, her , ghostly apparitions which can mess

with someone's mental state, taking over her life. Both, not understanding why the other would think the way they do.

 

Edward tells her to stay away from people, and he seems to be giving into the family curse, as he's telling her to just let it happen, afraid she might have been with the man she's attracted to, as Edward wants her!

 

The movie has a good premise, has this gothic vibe, but it doesn't really go anywhere. It doesn't do much with its ghosts, and we're not told why are they doing what they're doing, why the curse, why the rules?! Because the ghosts are evil and mad,and want everyone to suffer like they do?

I didn't quite like the bullies (grown men) who keep on bullying women (Rachel and the war veteran's sister) and beat up the war veteran who's missing a leg,because he fought with the English.

 

SPOILERS the movie is about incest, and one thing I didn't get was, maybe I would have understood the attraction, if the siblings were gorgeous, but the male was ugly,not to mention,the characters have no depth, especially the guy (who is ugly inside and out, and is weak, the girl does everything, as if she's his mother!), so, what attraction is there to begin with? Where is this attraction coming from? Oh, it's their ancestors, not them..Ok.But what if the ancestors were just as boring and bland?! The curse seems to also be a sort of madness that befalls them, and we are told Edward has it, as he sees a bird which doesn't exist (the madness might come from their incestuous relationship and breeding).

 

Their parents look exactly like them, and every ancestor before them, to the point I was wondering if it's just them, their reincarnation, although it didn't make sense as reincarnation, as their parents lived at the same time with them for 14 years!

 

Viewer discretion is advised,as the movie contains nudity.

 

You can watch the full movie here,for free :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcvStIn2YDc&ab_channel=DarkMatterTV

 

Rating : Could have been a contender!