Caddo Lake (2024) Review!!

Synopsis – When an 8-year-old girl disappears on Caddo Lake, a series of past deaths and disappearances begin to link together, altering a broken family’s history.

My Take – Who would have thought that 2024 would be the year where would be receiving not one but three productions from filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, universally known for his unique vision and storytelling style.

The first being The Watchers, which marked the directorial debut of his daughter Ishana Night Shyamalan, and saw a unique concept crumble under the ambition of its own narrative. The second being Trap, starring a deliciously evil Josh Harnett, which saw a fun set up play out well until its final act. Thankfully, the best was reserved for last in the form of a twisted mystery thriller that will keep you guessing until the end.

Marking the sophomore effort from writer-directors Celine Held and Logan George (who worked on three episodes of “Servant,” the acclaimed Apple TV+ from Shyamalan), the film has all the hallmarks of Shyamalan’s best stories: inquisitive kids who have more to them than meets the eye, families broken by trauma that are eventually healed through a supernatural experience, and, of course, a mind-bending plot twist.

Sure, it seems inspired by the German language Netflix show “Dark”, but what it lacks in its supposed originality, it makes up for it by telling a solid story that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

Mainly as there is just so much to unpack in its 99 minute run time that it is hard to expand on simple thoughts, without spoiling anything. Except that it boasts some incredible performances and leads to a well-constructed but divisive ending (which I personally found fantastic).

Set in Karnack, a small Texas town that abuts the Caddo Lake, which spreads across the Texas-Louisiana border, the story follows Paris (Dylan O’Brien), a young pipe fitter, who continues to be haunted by the death of his mother, who had some sort of seizure while driving Paris, plunging them off a bridge.

His survivor’s guilt haunts his entire existence, even going as far as confronting her doctor in a parking lot to get answers. Mainly as he suspects that maybe there’s more to the event, something darker under the surface of Caddo Lake.

Meanwhile, Ellie (Eliza Scanlen), a young woman who due to her longing for the absent father she’s never known keeps on clashing with her mother (Lauren Ambrose). Though her stepfather Daniel (Eric Lange) tries to mend clearly broken bridges, Ellie wants nothing to do with him despite being on excellent terms with her 8-year-old stepsister Anna (Caroline Falk).

After one such family fight, Ellie races off into the lake to stay at her friend’s place. Unbeknownst to her, Anna followed her, only to completely disappear off the face of the earth. Leading to a search which will unravel a discovery one couldn’t possibly predict.

For most of the film, directors Held and George drift between the search for a missing girl and Paris’ hunt for answers, stories that eventually collide. Much like Shyamalan’s best work, the whole set up thrives on building suspense. The film keeps us in a constant state of unease, slowly unraveling its secrets while raising more questions than answers.

Each revelation pulling us further into the chilling mystery, making it impossible to look away. It does not take long for the first twist to be revealed, which in turn, truly helps keep the film moving along at a decent pace.

However, at the root of the story is a series of dramatic relationships between people and their sad lives, tainted by loss and abandonment. It’s a mystery, sure, but like all the best mysteries it’s not about revealing who did what, but how and why it happened in the first place.

Yes, many might struggle with this unconventional style, but it’s what sets the film apart. Interestingly, directors Held and George, discovered the location first and then crafted the story around it. The lake itself is almost a character, and, like a great actor, it elevates the story and the performances of the other players.

A great portion of the film is spent on its waters. It’s as dangerous as it is beautiful to see the lake being so well incorporated. Different angles are used throughout some of the scenes that help depict the lake’s natural beauty and its sheer size.

And of course, the trudging path leads to a twisted climax, which with lesser talented hands would have stumbled, but the duo stick the landing perfectly, coming full circle with the characters’ journey fantastically.

Performances wise, both Dylan O’Brien and Eliza Scanlen, bring nuanced turns reflecting the turmoil of their own existences. O’Brien does well in portraying an unfulfilled and sorrowful son who only wants to get answers and another chance, while Scanlen delivers an upsettingly accurate depiction of how an estranged child will grow to harbor resentment against a parent.

In supporting roles, Diana Hopper, Caroline Falk, Sam Hennings, Eric Lange, and Lauren Ambrose are excellent. On the whole, ‘Caddo Lake‘ is a solid twisty thriller that is throughout intriguing and exhilarating.