Good afternoon, House of Madness travelers:
Things aren't always as they seem, and when it comes right down to it, the unknown can be a dangerous maze you'll never navigate your way through. That carpet store that's been in the mall for 40 years, and you've never seen a single customer in there - drug front for the local mafia. That neighbour down the street who only comes out of his house once a week to check his mail - axe murderer. The neighborhood cat that has been seemingly wandering the streets for decades, and hasn't aged a bit - witch. All of these scenarios are absolutely true (probably), and just go to show just how dangerous throwing yourself into an unknown situation can be; for brothers Matty (Harry Cadby) and Jack (Neil Linpow), this couldn't be more true.
It's a stormy night in the secluded countryside, and Mama (Joely Richardson), daughter Maisy (Sadie Soverall), and invalid Pa (Roger Ajogbe) are sitting around the dinner table about to have some birthday cake when there's a loud thumping and scream at the front door. Mama heads to see who's there, and sees a young man frantically begging her for help as his lifeless brother lies on the ground. After a brief exchange, Mama finally gives in and opens the door for Matty, and agrees to do whatever she can for his brother Jack. Once Jack is patched up, the two brothers exclaim how important it is for them to get back to their wrecked car where Jack sustained his injuries, and be on their way. Mama insists the roads are too bad, and they'd best wait for morning, but Jack is having none of it, and decides it's time to brandish his trusty pistol, and take the family hostage. As the night wears on, we quickly begin to suspect that Jack and Matty aren't the ones harboring a deep secret, but rather something feels amiss with the house and Mama's true intentions. It's hard to be evil when you're not the most evil person in the room, and Jack is about to learn a very valuable lesson on where he stands in the chain of power.
"Little Bone Lodge" doesn't re-invent the wheel or knock your socks off with its originality, but it tells a tale that's been told before, and tells it rather well. There's no shocking twist that tries to make the film smarter than it is, but there's just enough mystery to keep you captivated and committed to seeing it all the way through without feeling cliché or boring. One thing is for sure, if my car ever breaks down in the middle of nowhere during a midnight storm, I think I'll just wait things out until morning; it's easier to spot evil in the daytime.
Madness Meter: 5.9/10
NB
