Keeper (dir. Osgood Perkins)

By: Dave Hughes

Osgood Perkins (Longlegs, The Monkey) has been a busy man for the past two years, directing three movies back-to-back-to-back while managing promotion and other duties. There is no question that he is a filmmaker with a lot to say, and his unique creative ideas routinely get the horror community excited. His latest film, Keeper, sees him trade the darker rural setting for a different kind of terror: a secluded weekend getaway in the woods for a couple whose forced proximity and isolation open the door to deeply buried psychological issues and, inevitably, a sinister supernatural presence. Keeper attempts to blend original, compelling creative ideas, but ultimately, the ambition of the vision does not match the execution.

Tatiana Maslany (The Monkey, Orphan Black) stars in Keeper as Liz. This is the second time Perkins has teamed with Maslany, and there is no question that her intense, contained performance style is perfect for his brand of slow-burn psychological horror. Maslany embraces the role of Liz with a deeply unsettling, yet vulnerable, energy. She plays the character as someone struggling to maintain control questioning her own sanity, keeping the audience off-balance, unsure whether she is a victim of the unfolding terror or a catalyst for it. Her presence is the gravitational center of the film, and she rises to the task of carrying its often-challenging emotional weight.

It becomes increasingly clear that Perkins is a master of building dread through meticulous setup in desolate settings. He has done so effectively in his previous works and continues that trend in Keeper. The cabin itself truly becomes a character in the film. From its massive, cavernous ceilings to the confusing twists and turns of each corner, the space is actively intimidating to the audience. The setting creates a sense of perpetual disorientation, ensuring audiences never know what psychological or supernatural danger is truly waiting around the corner.

The early promise of Keeper relies entirely on its visuals, building tension, but as the central mystery begins to unfold, the film eventually runs out of steam and the narrative becomes increasingly stale. It is set up beautifully to explore what's really in that cabin, but once the events unfold, the momentum collapses. While the visuals are a stand-out (Perkins crafts a gorgeous, ominous environment as he has done so often before), even their unsettling quality diminishes once the truth is revealed, unable to sustain interest when the plot is no longer compelling.

The core theme of Keeper is the profound uncertainty that so many couples face early on in a relationship, never truly knowing the psychological background or issues that they may be confronting. That uncertainty is enough to drive some people completely mad, as seen in Maslany’s character. However, once this core psychological plot strand is settled, Perkins abruptly leans fully into the supernatural. The message about relationship distrust is established but seems to be abandoned halfway through in order to prioritize the literal hauntings for our lead characters. Horror is at its most effective when the central message is carried consistently throughout the film, a balance Keeper fails to maintain.

Target Score: 5/10: With disturbing visuals and a captivating lead performance from Tatiana Maslany, there is undeniable promise in Osgood Perkins' Keeper. However, as the film transitions from meticulous setup to full reveal, the thematic complexity is abandoned and there is not enough to sustain the attention of the audience.