Keeper

Film: Keeper

Year: 2025

Director: Osgood Perkins

Writer: Nick Lepard

Starring: Tatiana Maslany, Rossif Sutherland and Birkett Turton

Review:

This was a film that I was intrigued to see. It popped on my radar earlier this year when I saw our director, Osgood Perkins’ other film, The Monkey. I believe there was a teaser at the end of it which I skipped. When I was doing my featured notes, that’s when I learned of this one. He is working again with Tatiana Maslany, who stars in this as well. I’ll be honest, outside of her and hearing a couple friends enjoying this, I came in blind.

Synopsis: a romantic anniversary trip to a secluded cabin turns sinister when a dark presence reveals itself, forcing a couple to confront the property’s haunting past.

We get an interesting opening. We are seeing flashes of various women. They are Julia (Erin Boyes), Francis (Gina Vultaggio), Ada (Claire Friesen), Leslie (Christin Park) and a peasant girl played by Evelyn Burke. We aren’t given much context outside that each seems to come from different eras. Things also seem to turn dark, where they get angry. I’ll leave this here as this does come up periodically in nightmares.

It then shifts to Liz (Maslany) talking to her friend. She reveals that she’s going on the trip from the synopsis. Her friend is concerned. It sounds like despite them being together for the time that they have, there are still lots of unknowns. They still head to the cabin. It is here that Malcolm Westbridge (Rossif Sutherland) shows her around. There’s also a box that contains a chocolate cake, left for them by the housekeeper.

Their night gets interrupted by Malcolm’s cousin, Darren (Birkett Turton). He shows up with Minka (Eden Weiss). She is foreign, being somewhere from Eastern Europe so she doesn’t speak English well. Malcolm does what he can to rush them out, so he can be alone with Liz. She wants to get intimate, but he first insists that she try some of the cake.

Things get odd from here. Liz wakes in the middle of the night, not feeling well. She’s drawn back to the cake, eating the rest of it. There also seems to be an entity lurking within the house. It is watching Liz. We also see Minka getting fed up the next morning, trying to leave and is attacked by something in the woods. To complicate matters further, Malcolm tells Liz he has to go back to the city to care for a patient. She assumes there is something more there. She calls her friend who believes the same. The truth is even more terrifying.

That is where I’ll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I’ll start is by saying that this is one that I like more that I sit with it. When I finally settled in to write my thoughts down, there were little things that I thought back on and it clicked why certain things were said or we saw certain reactions. I’m going to tread lightly to not spoil things while I still flesh out my thoughts.

Where I want to start is with the basic premise. The familiar story centers on a couple that knows enough about each other for a trip like this to be planned, yet still have remaining secrets between them. This is subtly introduced when Liz mentions on the phone that she doesn't know if he wants children—a crucial detail for daters in their 30s. The remote, wooded setting amplifies a built-in claustrophobia and fear, establishing an appreciated tone that the cinematography successfully captures.

Let me then look at the two leads, starting with Liz. She is at risk by going to Malcolm's cabin. I appreciate that she's a modern woman who stands up for herself and fights back, a role Maslany excels at. However, she still ignores clear red flags, partly due to Malcolm's explanations. Like her, I've been in bad situations while trying to be polite. The growing fear as she discovers more information effectively builds suspense.

To build off that sentiment, when I heard Malcolm bring up this patient that he needs to see, I even believed him. What is strategic there is that it gets brought up earlier. He then references it when he has to leave. There are little responses that are dropped later that didn’t click until getting my thoughts down that gave me an empathy. His reaction also makes more sense now as well. Sutherland does a good job in this role as seeming like a nice guy, while still hiding secrets.

The last thing to develop is referencing the women we see through dreams and flashbacks. I made sure to remember that as I knew it would have to play in. What I love there, Liz’s biggest fear is that he’s married with a family and she’s the other woman. She finds a picture and that is her evidence to fight with him. The deeper we get into the story, the more these flashes make sense, especially the details. I did appreciate that slow reveal of the story.

I think that should be enough for the story, I want to then shift to filmmaking. The cinematography effectively captures the isolated setting, enhancing the haunted house atmosphere, especially when Liz is alone. The framing, light, and shadow use are excellent. The non-cheesy jump scares and practical effects were good, as was the functional CGI that enhanced the action. The unsettling music was also great for ramping up tension. This is definitely a well-made movie, which I expect seeing Perkins attached.

All that is left then is the rest of the acting performances. I’ve already said that Maslany and Sutherland are good as our leads. Turton works as this lecherous cousin. I like that Malcolm says that he used to be nice, but then as time went on, he’s become what he has. It makes even more sense with things that we learn. Weiss works in her minor role. The women who we see flashes for are solid as well. Then credit for the odd things that we see at the climax. That made me uncomfortable and I loved it. The acting is great.

In conclusion, this is an effectively crafted horror film that benefits from Perkins' direction and Nick Lepard's slow-burn script. The film excels in building dread through its isolated setting and excellent cinematography, which uses light and shadow to create a genuinely haunted atmosphere. Maslany and Sutherland deliver strong performances, navigating the unsettling secrets that underpin their relationship. While the film’s premise about a couple's concealed truths is familiar, the integration of dreams, flashbacks, and a terrifying history gives it a unique depth, ensuring that the final, uncomfortable revelations land with great impact. This is a well-made, tense, and thought-provoking entry in the genre.

My Rating: 8 out of 10