Caddo Lake, the new mystery thriller starring Teen Wolf and The Maze Runner star Dylan O’Brien and Little Women‘s Eliza Scanlen, which M. Night Shyamalan produced, debuts to a solid Rotten Tomatoes score. From the directing duo of Celine Held and Logan George, Caddo Lake is now available on the Max streaming service. The film unfolds on the titular lake, examining what happens when the disappearance of a young girl unlocks family secrets. It takes inspiration from the real forest that is located between Texas and Louisiana.
Caddo Lake has started off with 82% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 22 reviews, which breaks down to a 6.30 out of 10. So far, of the reviews submitted, only four are negative. The score could fluctuate as more reviews are added, but the strong percentage of positive reviews suggests it will stay within the Fresh range.
What The Reviews Mean For Caddo Lake
The Twists May Be A Hurdle For Audiences
In his Caddo Lake review, Screen Rant‘s Nick Bythrow praises the performances of O’Brien and Scanlen but cautions, “Without interesting characters to carry the story forward, the intriguing elements of their — admittedly creative — investigation fall flat.” The screenplay seems to be one of the movie’s more disappointing elements. This is echoed by Matthew Donato, who writes for Collider, and says of the film’s third act, “Narrative rules are called into question and the stakes of Anna’s vanishing sink like an anchor.” Still, as in other reviews, Caddo Lake‘s mood and atmosphere are praised.
Shyamalan, who worked with the co-directors and writers on the Apple TV+ horror series Servant, produced Caddo Lake through his Blinding Edge Pictures production company.
Shyamalan’s involvement and influence are cited in several reviews, with Robert Kodjer writing for Flickering Myth and observing, “Shyamalan is a producer here, which is fitting since this film evokes that sense of unapologetic craziness without forcing it.” This can be seen as a good or bad thing, depending on how one feels about Shyamalan’s work. Although the secrets of Caddo Lake are being kept under wraps, it’s safe to say that the film from Held and George is far twistier and less straightforward than Trap and Knock at the Cabin, the two most recent Shyamalan movies.
For audiences not necessarily looking to dive down a wild rabbit hole, perhaps the most positive review of Caddo Lake comes from TheWrap‘s William Bibbani, who praises the acting. He writes, “Dylan O’Brien is an excellent lead and always has been, but it’s Eliza Scanlen who takes “Caddo Lake” and runs with it.” The review concludes with, “As a serious drama it truly excels. It’s sad and meaningful, not just clever and tricky, and what you’ll take away from it couldn’t have been spoiled even if I did describe what happened.”
Our Take On Caddo Lake
It’s A Bit Distancing
If there is one glaring flaw around Caddo Lake that the reviews mention in various ways, it’s that the thriller keeps viewers at something of a distance. It never fully fleshes out its characters and relationships before committing to the mystery. However, with a strong sense of place and great lead performances, not to mention a supporting cast that includes Lauren Ambrose, Eric Roberts, and Dianna Hopper, among others, there is plenty to recommend about the new release, whether viewed as a drama or a genre bit of storytelling.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
Caddo Lake follows a chilling mystery centered around a young girl’s disappearance in a small Texas town. As the community grapples with the unsettling events, hidden secrets and tensions unfold. Directed by nan, this suspenseful narrative explores themes of fear and the unknown surrounding Caddo Lake.
- Director
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Logan George
, Celine Held - Writers
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Logan George
, Celine Held - Cast
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Dylan O’Brien
, Eliza Scanlen
, Caroline Falk
, Lauren Ambrose
, Sam Hennings
, Diana Hopper
, Eric Lange
, Lance E. Nichols
, Nina Leon
, David Maldonado
, Kim Baptiste
, Jules Hilillo Fernandez
