Osgood Perkins has quickly become the new prince of modern horror.
His recent massive success with “Longlegs” cemented his status as a director who knows exactly how to get under our skin. Fans were ready for his next masterpiece to terrifyingly delight them again.
But his latest film “Keeper” unfortunately breaks that winning streak in a frustrating way.
The movie teases a terrifying masterpiece but ends up confusing the audience rather than scaring them. It is a classic case of a great setup with no clear place to go.
A Cabin Getaway Gone Wrong
The premise is simple and familiar to any horror fan.
Tatiana Maslany plays Liz and Rossif Sutherland plays Malcolm. They are a couple deeply in love but clearly hiding something from each other.
They head to a remote cabin for a romantic retreat.
The location is beautiful but feels isolated and cold from the moment they arrive.
It doesn’t take long for the cracks in their relationship to show.
Screenwriter Nick Lepard does a good job of keeping the early details vague. We know they love each other, but they act awkward. It feels like a third date rather than a committed relationship.
tatiana maslany rossif sutherland cabin horror movie keeper
This tension is the best part of the movie.
You find yourself questioning everything Malcolm does.
Why is he so obsessed with a chocolate cake left by the caretaker?
Is he hiding a secret family or something darker?
Perkins uses his signature visual style to make these quiet moments feel loud. He bombards the viewer with quick flashes of disturbing images.
We see beautiful women in despair. We see monsters that might be real or might be dreams.
It creates a thick atmosphere of dread that Perkins is famous for.
Maslany and Sutherland Bring the Heat
The acting is not the problem here.
Tatiana Maslany proves once again why she is one of the most versatile actors working today.
She plays Liz as a smart and resourceful woman. She is not a helpless victim waiting to be saved. You can see the wheels turning in her head as she tries to figure out Malcolm.
She anchors the film even when the plot goes off the rails.
Rossif Sutherland is equally good as the charming but creepy boyfriend.
He walks a fine line between being the perfect partner and a potential psychopath.
Their chemistry is undeniable.
They make you care about the relationship even as you wait for it to implode.
“Tread carefully,” Liz whispers to herself in a chilling moment that defines her character’s survival instinct.
The film also throws a curveball with the arrival of Malcolm’s cousin.
Birkett Turton plays the unctuous relative who crashes their romantic trip. He brings along his girlfriend, played by Eden Weiss, who barely speaks English.
This adds a new layer of social awkwardness to the horror.
It is a narrative wild card that works for a while. It keeps the audience guessing about who the real threat is.
Visual Scares That Don’t Add Up
Osgood Perkins is a master of atmosphere.
He knows how to use silence and shadow better than almost anyone.
“Keeper” looks incredible. The cinematography captures the isolation of the woods perfectly.
The dream sequences are genuinely unsettling.
But style cannot save a story that has no substance.
The movie relies too heavily on “red herrings.”
These are false clues meant to mislead the audience. A few are fine, but “Keeper” is drowning in them.
You spend the whole movie trying to solve a puzzle that might not have a solution.
The director seems more interested in making cool shots than telling a coherent story.
Liz sees things that vanish when she blinks.
Are they ghosts? Is she going crazy? Is Malcolm gaslighting her?
The movie raises all these interesting questions.
Sadly, it refuses to answer most of them.
Quick Breakdown of The Keeper Experience
| The Good | The Bad |
|---|---|
| Tatiana Maslany’s intense performance | The confusing third act |
| The creepy atmospheric tension | Too many unanswered questions |
| Rossif Sutherland’s mysterious charm | Feels like a missed opportunity |
| Beautiful and haunting cinematography | Red herrings that lead nowhere |
The Third Act Falls Apart
The ending of a horror movie is crucial.
It is where the tension breaks and the monster is revealed.
“Longlegs” nailed its ending. “Keeper” completely drops the ball.
The third act should be a banger. It should pay off all the unease built up in the first hour.
Instead, the finale feels rushed and random.
The scares happen, but they don’t feel earned.
It seems like the filmmakers didn’t know how to wrap up the story they started.
The events in the final twenty minutes feel distracting rather than inspired.
It is a messy conclusion to a movie that started with such precision.
You leave the theater scratching your head instead of checking the backseat of your car.
For a director like Perkins, this feels like a step backward.
He usually controls every frame with purpose.
Here, the chaos takes over and the story gets lost in the noise.
It is frustrating because the potential was there for another classic.
The ingredients were perfect: a great cast, a spooky setting, and a talented director.
But the recipe just didn’t come together this time.
“Keeper” is not a total disaster, but it is a major disappointment. It is creepy enough to recommend to die-hard fans, but general audiences will likely leave annoyed. We know Perkins can do better because he has done better. Hopefully, his next project gets him back on the winning track.
What do you think about Osgood Perkins’ latest directional turn? Do you prefer open-ended mysteries or clear answers in your horror movies? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
