Lovely, Dark, and Deep (2023) A Horror Movie Review by Mark Walker
Written and Directed by Teresa Sutherland
Lennon, a new back-country ranger, travels alone through the dangerous wilderness, hoping to uncover the origins of a tragedy that has haunted her since she was a child. (IMDB)
Lovely, Dark, and Deep.
There’s a title that is trying to say a lot. I am not sure how much of it could be described as lovely and it may not be as deep as many people hope, but it is suitably dark once things get going.
Georgina Campbell (Barbarian) is ranger Lennon, finally securing her dream job camping out in the wilderness of a national park over the summer. However, her motivation to take the job is somewhat different from the other rangers she will be working with. Every year thousands of people go missing in US National Parks and never show up, just like Lennon’s own sister, whose disappearance when they were children still haunts her. It just so happens that Jenny vanished in the very park in which Lennon will be working. To add to the mystery, the ranger she is replacing disappeared himself leaving no trace other than a mysterious note at his campsite.
”I owe this land a body”
Setting up her base camp as a search station, Lennon patrols the park looking for clues to her sister’s whereabouts. When another hiker goes missing, Lennon goes against orders to find the woman and save her, only to find herself admonished by her superiors and fired from her post. Her colleague, Jackson (Nick Blood) and boss, Zhang (Wai Ching Ho) seemingly know a lot more than they are prepared to let on to the rookie. Leaving Lennon and the audience in the dark.
Bewildered, she waits at her station for a chopper to come and collect her but, before she can leave, things start to get really weird. The park sends her on a hallucinogenic journey of reflection and discovery as she tries to come to terms with her childhood loss . As well as escape the clutches of mother nature, or whatever else spiritually resides in the forests. An unseen force doesn’t want Lennon to leave.
Lovely.
But, interestingly, LDaD takes a dramatic turn in the second half. After starting out fairly gently with a few spooky scenes in the park, LDaD goes batshit in the second half and that might be where some of the poor reviews on IMDB are coming from. After a genteel opening, LDaD turns into something more akin to The Outwaters (2022). Then nature takes control and sends Lennon on a mind-bending journey through her memories and the park. Taking her places and showing her things that are terrifying, magical, and impossible.
Dark
This journey takes her through an act of self-forgiveness as she also discovers what is really going on in the park and how so many people disappear every year. There is no real explanation as to why this is the case, however, and the trip itself is a bit odd. LDaD never quite reaches the gory heights of The Outwaters. But it is similarly otherworldly and confusing. You really just have to go with it to enjoy it. Don’t try and decipher all of the imagery and clues, it will just make your head ache. To be fair, I am never quite sure if you are supposed to understand everything in a sequence like this? Film as art, open to Interpretation?
Deep?
And therein lies the ‘problem’ with LDaD. It is a film of two very different halves. Presenting itself as a mystery. You get told what is going on. But the why is less clear and that will frustrate some viewers who want to know and understand everything. LDaD ends with a resolution, but also more questions, the mystery never fully solved. While we now understand the missing ranger’s note, there are still questions about ‘why’? But that didn’t bother me as much as some of the reviewers on IMDB and I don’t think LDaD deserves the 4.7 it currently has on that site. So don’t be put off if you fancy something a bit trippy for your evening’s viewing.
Lovely, Dark and Deep
It starts slowly as we get to know Lennon and her story. All set against a backdrop of lush, green landscapes, nature at its best. Hiding something menacing and mysterious. The film is nicely shot with some lovely scenery. The cast all do a good job. Campbell does most of the heavy lifting here and shoulders the weight admirably, while backed-up by a great supporting cast.
As with The Outwaters, if you want everything spelled out for you, this is not the film to watch. If you like something a bit esoteric and open, then you will get more out of it.
Lovely, Dark, and Deep is on digital platforms 25 March
+ There are no comments
Add yours