The Caretaker Review (FrightFest 2025)

One of the highlights of FrightFest every year is seeing what fresh new talents have to offer from behind the camera. This is where the First Blood strand comes in, inviting first-time filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their cinematic debuts and this year, one of the films is The Caretaker, directed by Luke Tedder.

The film follows Eddie, a mute who takes a caretaker position at the foreboding Lockbridge Academy after losing his cruel and unforgiving mother. While at Lockbridge, he sparks a connection with cleaner Marie and attempts to unravel a mystery involving the shady Aberdeen family who run the institution.

For a debut, this film can feel rather ambitious, which occasionally works for and against the story it is trying to tell. For instance, everything regarding the central mystery around Lockbridge Academy is where the film really shines in terms of its storytelling and direction. The element alone gives the film a forward momentum that keeps its story engaging for the most part, but it is also where the actor get to make the most of their characters in the process.

This especially applies to Scott Hume and Mackenzie Larsen, who play Charles and Marie, respectively, as the mystery is unravelled, the tension and layers to these two characters surface more over time. These are also two of the strongest performances in the whole film, as Humes and Larsen are able to do a lot with very little.

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However, where the film gets swept up in its own mystique, it often loses sight of the themes it wants to portray. Ben Probert does a great job playing the titular mute caretaker as he conveys a lot of subtle emotion through just his facial expressions. Unfortunately, due to the narrative focus on the central enigma, the thematic thread of childhood trauma from Eddie’s perspective gets lost to the wayside despite being a prominent feature during the film’s opening and closing moments.

When the film works, it thrives. The scares are few and far between, but still effective when they appear, and the central relationship between Eddie and Marie can feel a bit rushed, but is brought to life thanks to its performances. Tedder’s direction also elevates certain scenes that otherwise could have come across as clichéd.

The Caretaker is a decent little thriller that excels in some areas yet falters in others. Though it can get a bit repetitive in its structure, this is thankfully made up for with a satisfying final act that leans into its experimental side.