After one of the weirdest, most effective openings to a film I have seen in some time, Caveat, turns out to be a simply disorientating creepy Shudder original horror of isolated suspense ridden dread.
Laid back drifter with what seems short term memory loss, Isaac (Jonathan French) accepts a supposedly paid job by lowlife Barret (Ben Caplan) to watch over his niece, psychologically troubled, Olga (Leila Sykes) in a rundown house situated on an island in Ireland.
From the outset of arriving on a rowboat, conditions change and the situation goes from just bizarre to frantic.
Catatonic like, Olga enjoys her own company, doesn’t talk much and is handy with a crossbow if antagonised.
Isaac has also agreed to be chained within barriers of the house, so not to be accessible to certain areas including Olga’s room.
Isaac is literally buckled up in a restrictive apparatus or glorified leash.
Thankfully, there’s a dog on the premises he becomes mates with.
Isaac soon realises they are not alone when paranormal aspects from within the basement start moving around the house.
A spider’s web of conceit unravels in a backstory of what happened to Olga and family.
A secret room, a corpse and landline telephone all come into play.
As peculiar as her character may be, Leila Sykes creates intensity with eye movement and mannerisms, plus perfect crossbow aim.
Felt sorry for Isaac at times, little known Jonathan French is apt.
Anxiety alert at the freaky bunny toy that bangs on a tin drum when danger looms, is mangy, passive aggressive and intimidating.
A captivating first-time-feature from director, Damian McCarthy.
★★★
Horror, Thriller | Ireland, 2020 | 15 | 3rd June 2021 | Shudder Original | Dir.Damian McCarthy | Ben Caplan, Conor Dwane, Jonathan French, Leila Sykes
Follow Shane A. Bassett on Twitter @Movie_Analyst
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.