The Lodgers Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Lodgers Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 6, 2018

Those in the mood for a creepy gothic chiller might respond highly to “The Lodgers,” but the picture seems intentionally made for fans of Hammer Films and their unique legacy of horror endeavors. Director Brian O’Malley makes a distinct effort to replicate the deliberate moves of the studio’s creepy productions, and screenwriter David Turpin fills the story with enough guarded perversion and unease to maintain interest in the unfolding tale. However, “The Lodgers” is a slow-burn viewing experience, almost to a point of complete stoppage at times, finding O’Malley so caught up in the atmosphere of his work, he periodically forgets to nudge it along. There are enough macabre interests to maintain an absorbing sit, but to reach a point of actual momentum, one must accept O’Malley’s overly cautious handling of the feature’s fright factor.

During World War I, orphaned twin siblings Edward (Bill Milner) and Rachel (Charlotte Vega) are about to celebrate their 18th birthday, but the news isn’t welcome, as it marks the last day of their tapped trust fund, leaving them with a decrepit house and no future. Greater issues keep the twosome locked inside their dwelling, with a supernatural force also maintaining a presence nearby, keeping them fearful of repercussions if they break curfew and visitor rules. However, Rachel’s careful ways are slipping, meeting Sean (Eugene Simon), a young war vet with a wooden leg who takes a shine to the shut-in, giving her a shot at a brighter life away from home. As she builds a relationship with Sean, Rachel also has to deal with her brother, who refuses to break his grim indoor routine, urging her to remain with him, and there are issues with Mr. Bermingham (David Bradley), a banker who’s come to collect on numerous debts.

“The Lodgers” uses a classic horror setting as it takes viewers through the halls and into the rooms of Rachel and Edward’s estate. The home is falling apart, transforming into a prison for the pair as they confront trouble from beyond, but O’Malley doesn’t start putting dramatic pieces together until late in the film. For the first act, the movie throws all type of information out there at once, with the production hoping that its slow crawl to doom is beguiling enough to overcome a lack of narrative firepower, with the ominous nature of the house returned to a few times to sustain some sort of screen activity while the script takes its time establishing characters and settings.

“The Lodgers” takes the long way to a conclusion, but genre elements are there to add some cushion for the journey. Edward is a creepy, obsessive young man who befriends a bird that’s managed to find its way into the home. Sean is a shattered vet trying to find his life again after war, pelted with rumors of cowardice from the local goons, who also enjoy threatening sexual assault on all the women in town. Mr. Bermingham is a Scrooge-like figure who demands money from the twins, but would gladly take Rachel’s hand in marriage as payment (enjoying their half-century age difference). And Rachel is in possession of secrets that detail what exactly is haunting the siblings, eager to find a way out of her dire situation, with Sean providing a rare shot at sexual and community liberation. Throughout “The Lodgers,” terror literally drips into view, with water-based nightmares emerging from a local lake that’s home to nude ghosts, and the home’s cellar, which floods angrily when the teenagers miss their curfew or welcome in strangers. It’s certainly not an unappealing assortment of classic genre elements, but O’Malley could use a little more emphasis in the editorial department, with the movie determined to reach a 90 minute run time, sacrificing some pace in the process.

The Lodgers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"The Lodgers" mostly takes place in the dark, offering a challenge for the AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Delineation remains communicative, dealing well with shadows and dark costuming, preserving frame information. Colors aren't jubilant, dealing mostly with muted period hues, but primaries are capable, while greenery is a big addition here, giving forest locations an evocative look. Skintones are accurate. Detail is satisfactory overall, with textured faces to help grasp physical decay, and village decoration is open for study. House interiors also preserve intended rot.

The Lodgers Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't quite as aggressive as expected. The track goes for a more immersive listening event than an overtly active one, but surrounds are utilized to help expand scoring needs and push out some of the household tension. Dialogue exchanges are appealing, retaining crispness, working through accents and intensity with clarity. Music retains lush instrumentation, supporting the action without overwhelming it. Low- end isn't significant, but demonic rumbling is present. Sound effects are loud and true, delivering intensity when necessary, while atmospherics are generous, providing a feel for aquatic experiences and ghostly movement.

The Lodgers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Behind the Scenes (22:02, HD) explores the creation of "The Lodgers" with help from the cast and crew, who provide insightful but promotional interviews (conducted on-set) to help guide the viewer around creative accomplishments. Discussions include: production origins, story and character, the shoot at eerie Loftus Hall (a possibly haunted location), underwater moviemaking, and various production challenges, including the use of an amputee double, bird wrangling, and cinematographic achievements. There's a wealth of BTS footage to enjoy, observing the mood of the shoot and the effort that went into creating many of the feature's more dreamlike moments.

• Deleted Scenes (2:06, HD) include bits of atmosphere around the house and Bermingham's visit to the village shop.

• A T.V. Spot (1:01, HD) is offered.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:06, HD) is included.

The Lodgers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Pokiness aside, "The Lodgers" presents some strong visual filmmaking from O'Malley, who has a distinct battle plan to present the enigmatic threat, creating some striking imagery along the way (with cinematographer Richard Kendrick) that increases eeriness, delivering satisfying payoff for troubling events. Turpin contributes some mental illness to lubricate the terror, with the twins adding to a long line of family rituals that contribute to their hellish existence. Mystery is present, along with Hammer-style gothic environments and numerous threats to the safety of the lead characters, and once "The Lodgers" finally gets going, there's much to appreciate dramatically and cinematically. It just requires more patience than usual to make it through the feature's scattered, glacial introductions.