Long Lost (2018)

When Seth receives a mysterious letter inviting him to spend the weekend at a secluded mansion in the country, he soon realizes the people inside the house may know him better than he knows himself.

Review

2018's Long Lost is one of those films that you end up thinking about long after it's finished. Written and directed by Erik Bloomquist (feature debut), Long Lost is a film that plays on emotions more than much else. Firmly rooted as a thriller there is far more horror bubbling below the surface than what is initially on show. We'll not spoil it here, so do pardon any vagaries. 

Seth arrives at a mansion in a hire car - one, we find out was subsequently hired for him - late in the evening, has the electronic keycode to open the main gates, and the front doors are, quite literally open. He obviously doesn't belong there, and the mystery begins. 

Quickly we find out that the house belongs to Seth's paternal half-brother, Richard - someone who he had no knowledge of, and yet seems to have an intimate knowledge of him. Living there with Richard is his business partner and girlfriend, Abby.

From the beginning of the film there is clearly something strange within the relationship of Richard and Abby. Richard is brash, condescending, and violently competitive, where Abby is contemplative, caring, and business minded. Seth gets caught in the middle when he is attracted to Abby - and believes the feeling to be reciprocated - and has an immediate dislike for his brother.

As time passes the situation becomes more and more uncomfortable, eerie, and quite flatly chilling, with Seth unsure of where he stands with either of his hosts, and what the endgame of their intentions are. 

I can see where Bloomquist's story would work so well on paper. The concept, body, and ultimate payoff is rife for a taut thriller novel. The issue with the transfer to screen, is that for what is little more than a single location stage play, so, so much rides on the three players.

As naive, perhaps idealistic, Seth, the casting of Adam Weppler (Twelfth Night) was a sound choice. He needed to carry the film for the most part, but portray a youthful innocence, one strewn with loss and distrust. Weppler does a solid job. He is both likable and believable, selling himself in the role, but very importantly being the every man the audience needed. His polar opposite, Richard, was played by Nicholas Tucci (You're Next) - and man, is he unlikable in the role. In other words, cast perfectly. Without doubt, he channels early Peter Serafinowicz (around Spaced). As the siren of the piece, Catherine Corcoran (Terrifier) is cast as Abby. She hits a home run in the is-she-trying-to-seduce-him-or-not, and I doubt many other could have carried of the performance so well.

Having seen enough films, anyone watching will know before the halfway mark that there is going to be some sort of rug-pull twist towards the end, and while there is, of course, no one - no one - will see it coming. 

Long Lost is a very watchable, interesting, and unique film. There is so much to wonder about within the story - so much like, hate, and be disgusted by - that the runtime flies past. The twist satisfies the tale perfectly, and is - boom - mind blowing. It's both thought provoking, and chilling, and a conversation starter.

A must see for those who like their chillers paced, and nuanced.