After helming highly praised episodes of M. Night Shyamalan’s acclaimed Apple TV+ series Servant, filmmaking pair Celine Held and Logan George decided to pitch a screenplay of theirs to the Signs director to gauge his interest in producing. From inception, the rest is history and Caddo Lake is set for release on Max this week. The focus of the picture is of a smaller scale and this could explain the direct to streaming model of the film, just like how Max’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot was recently strategized.
On that note, there are certain scenes and scenarios in Caddo Lake that will definitely excite her, as the world has seen her imagination extended into films, based on her grandiose tales, many of which have been produced into films. Supported by passionate performances from the cast members Dylan O’ Brien from Love and Monsters and Eliza Scanlen from Babyteeth, elicits their latest suspense drama film’s absolute focus from ever more breathless audiences – but will be worth the effort if any care is taken. Caddo Lake presents so many appealing plot turns that we will not reveal here, but I would recommend this one for Black Mirror fans anyway.
It’s a busy month for star O’Brien, closely following the release of Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night after being cast as a by the one and only Dan Aykroyd, well there’s more to Caddo Lake, and no wit over there. Perfectly fine however, for O’Brien had already displayed his dramatic skills in previous winter. In a conversation held and George recently had with Movieweb O’brien’s supporting turn in real-life events inspired drama Deepwater horizon(2016) directed by Peter Berg is what made them look for who could play Caddo Lake’s lead Paris better, the character around which the plot revolved.
Paris (yes, that is the name given to you he has) works for a body of water named after him, and it is located as per actual reality in the wooded region between Texas and Louisiana states. It’s a beautiful yet somewhat unnerving backdrop for a mystery suspense thriller about estranged parents and nagging mysteries that’s just filled with hope for the lost.
Paris undergoes the trouble of loving Cee (Diana Hopper), which appears to have cracked some relations in the past and possibly explains why Paris’ hands shake and why he appears to takes his time when speaking to her. Still, at least, they find comfort in the fact that they are building a modest home together by the lake which as a result draws them closer. Perhaps this could be the start of their peaceful wedded life together and no longer be disturbed by anything further.
For now, space cannot be taken within the home of Ellie (Scanlen) and her family to settle any simmering grievances in that regard as this other story that Ellie perceivably has happens as well in the same lakeside habitat. The well-meaning but clearly troubled young woman clashes with her hot tempered mother Celeste (Lauren Ambrose), their mutual irritation and wrongdoings are forefronted in each house dispute. Ellie does not have a father in the picture, which is expected nowadays, Daniel (Eric Lange), the new sweet pea of Celeste tries to be normal and help. This only works to a point; however, as in the case, the young step sister Anna (Caroline Falk), 8 years old just suddenly vanishes to gather no experiential information or material for a whole neighbourhood search.
All the same, delay Paris is drawn into the conspiracy of a different kind and immerses himself into the depths of the lake and the forest surrounding it after hearing strange sounds that he cannot erase from his mind. Caddo Lake lives up to the expectation of putting the lid on the coffin as one is hardly getting bored, most of the time switching between riveting narratives from Ellie and Paris. And there are moments when he and Ellie witness a few wolves coming out of the blue from particular areas of the terrain, the middle of nowhere seeming too out of reach and close at the same time due to the terrain.
But what are the secrets behind this cloudy watery grave? Are there powers that be that exist which probably cannot be comprehended by common sense? By having some fantastic elements that are set against a very unsentimental realism, and the camera work actually setting you in the bottom of the lake, which helps build tension and suspense. It is quite unfortunate that the film ends just at the point when everything starts to fall into place regarding what is concealed in Caddo Lake making sense as to why the families of Paris and Ellie end up being pulled apart so tragically.
The film Caddo Lake will definitely request some dedication from its viewers in the sense of: ‘M. Night Shyamalan has backed this project, so do not be surprised when you will encounter at least one or two befuddling twists in the plot.’ As you watch, put those phones down since there are several blink and you miss them updates in regard to the developments that are associated with young Anna’s disappearance. And even if the A-story reaches a conclusion at that point, the peculiar little world which was fashioned out of Caddo Lake does not satisfy the viewers’ need completely. Which is to say that we are both let down by the end and feel the need for a second part.
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