Keeper

Movie Name: Keeper
Year of Release: 2025
Director: Osgood Perkins
Starring: Tatiana Maslany, Rossif Sutherland, Birkett Turton, Eden Weiss
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5
Watch it on Amazon

Synopsis and Review

These last few years have been particularly busy and prolific for writer/producer/director Osgood Perkins. Following the breakout hit which was "Longlegs", the multi-hyphenate has subsequently released "The Monkey", which was another modest and well reviewed hit, and "Keeper" which largely flew under the radar. And he currently is in post-production for another film to be released this year. "Keeper" follows the narrative of a recent couple consisting of Liz and Malcolm, who go to a cabin in the woods during a weekend to celebrate their one-year anniversary. They're getting close to making it official. Liz is far more cosmopolitan than Malcolm, and one of her closest friends bluntly asks why is she going to a remote cabin with a man she's known for little over a year. When they get to the cabin they encounter a cake left by the caretaker on the kitchen table. They're soon interrupted by Malcolm's loud cousin Darren, who has a model girlfriend in tow, Minka. While the two men go off to briefly chat, Minka tells Liz the cake tastes awful. Even though Liz doesn't like chocolate cake, Malcolm insists she has some. She caves in, and during the night while Malcolm is sleeping, she has haunting visions. She is also drawn to the cake, which she finishes in one sitting, even though she encounters severed fingers inside. Malcolm who is a doctor is called into town due to an emergency with one of his patients. Liz stays behind and strange occurrences start happening. She encounters a ghostly presence of Minka, alongside a woman wearing a plastic bag over her head. Darren shows up again, demanding to be let it in the cabin. While reticent, Liz agrees and following a brief chat, goes and hides in the bathroom. Darren is attacked, but Liz is unaware of the situation, but asks her friend Maggie to come get her. 

"Keeper" is a smaller scale film for Osgood Perkins, particularly when compared with "Longlegs" and "The Monkey". The script written by Nick Lepard, largely takes place in the cabin and its nearby woods. Mr. Perkins is successful at quickly establishing the dynamics between the couple, and their personality traits: the cosmopolitan yet not entirely self assured Liz, and the quieter, sensible, and devoted Malcolm. He also manages to illustrate the environment quite successfully, with the cabin having a retro look to it, which also brings back to mind some horror films of the 1980s. The supernatural elements are added progressively, like preparing a concoction where the unsettling ingredient shows progressively, and not all at once. The sentiments of unease grow for Liz, who feels somewhat trapped in a strange environment, and the more she uncovers, the more unsettled she is, while Malcolm never loses his mild mannered behavior. While all the ingredients for this film are there, and the cooking is done impeccably, the problem lies with the recipe itself. When the final chapter comes along, and the revelation behind all the supernatural events occur, there isn't much substance to it: these events feel underdeveloped, which poses a higher challenge for the creature and visual effects to do the additional work for a story that is poorly put together. Mr. Perkins manages to craft a visually compelling film, with a very talented cast, particularly the always underrated Tatiana Maslany, who has great support from Rossif Sutherland, but try as they might, the narrative just doesn't sustain their talent, nor the horror factor they're trying to convey. Sadly, and unlike "The Monkey", this film also doesn't have much humor to it, which also makes it less palatable. The production team is great, with Edo Van Breemen's score, Jeremy Cox's cinematography, and Danny Vermette's production design, shining through. Mr. Perkins is a solid storyteller, but this script just didn't do his talents enough justice. Watchable, but forgettable.