Lake on the cabin
A tale of a woman who after a miscarriage goes to paint at a remote cabin in the woods, but whilst reflecting on what has happened, finds her reflection is staring right back at her.
Director – Jem Karto
Producer – Owain Rhys Dain
Writer – Jem Karto
Duration – 15:00
Review From Adrian Dean
Lake on the Cabin is a short psychological horror directed by Jem Karto, who is mostly known for his work as a cinematographer. The film takes an eerie and unconventional spin within a familiar setting, and the results are stunning.
The story follows Eve, played by Olivia McDermott. She is a young woman who has suffered a terrible loss and goes to stay alone in a remote cabin to escape the stresses of life. Little does she know, the cabin is host to an entity that preys on the lonely.
What the film does particularly well is showcase Jem’s flair for cinematic compositions. The visuals far exceed the budget and could easily be mistaken for an extract from a larger Hollywood production. The film does not suffer from having just two characters; instead, it excels by making the central character interesting enough to hold our attention for the majority of the runtime.
The film has a thoughtful pace that blurs the line between short and feature-length. It’s not as short as many horror films seen on YouTube but still doesn’t overstay its welcome. Although there are some familiar beats (as with all horrors), the film carefully treads the line and manages to keep us guessing.
I couldn’t help but notice the Jordan Peele-inspired style that is peppered throughout. The filmmakers did an excellent job of merging modern and classic horror elements in perfect harmony. I foresee a bright future for this beautifully shot short film.