A father takes his two children and his soon to be new wife to a lodge for a holiday. But after he has to return to the city, the tension between the children and the fiancée (who has her own trauma in her past) seems to thaw…until strange and frightening things begin to occur…

If told that this film was from the makers of the disturbing Goodnight Mommy, Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz, you really wouldn’t be surprised. Like the earlier film, they have made a disturbing, uncomfortable film that builds a sense of dread and unease throughout, leading to a haunting ending.

In a lot of ways, it is hard to talk about The Lodge (co-produced by Hammer) without risking spoiling it. I would suggest watching the film knowing as little about it as possible is the beard way to see it. That way, it can reveal its story and unease upon you as it builds to its ending.

Riley Keough plays Grace, the fiancée, a woman struggling with traumatic events in her childhood. She is very good in the role. The children, played by Jaeden Martel and Lia McHugh are just as good, resentful and angry at the new woman in their father’s life, especially after their mother’s suicide.

There is a good supporting role for Richard Armitage as the children’s father and a cameo from Alicia Silverstone as the mother.

The co-directors use the location and the house very well, staging a number of disturbing moments well and along with co-writer Sergio Casci gives the actors good material to work with and they all deliver.

The Lodge isn’t the type of horror that goes for jump scares. It’s a film that takes its time instead to slowly work under your skin and linger and disturb and it really does.

It may not be as good as Goodnight Mommy, but there is no doubt that The Lodge works very well indeed.

I know I am being vague on this film, but as I said, going in knowing as little as possible gives the film a more powerful impact, one you won’t forget soon.

Simply put, The Lodge is very good indeed.

Rating: **** out of 5