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The Winter Lake begins by arguing, which immediately reveals Tom and Elaine’s history and sets a negative tone. Since the family had to rearrange their entire lives because of something Tom did, Elaine exclaims in anger, showing how irritated she is. There is no mention of the family’s history at this point, and while they explain something, the discussion seems out of context. This set an alarm in my mind that the rest of the movie would be set on the same overexplaining tone. To my relief, the case was different. A lot more is left unsaid, and while the rest of the film is more straightforward, some parts are elaborated with enough nuance for the eager audience to fill in the gaps.
In the beginning, The Winter Lake seems like only the setting of the film will be disclosed at the climax since it starts out slowly and rather quietly. Tom and Elaine’s relationship is rather mundane. But soon Holly and Ward enter the scene, bringing with them a chilling atmosphere. Most importantly, twenty minutes into the movie, the audience gets to see the disturbing scene of a skull and body staring back at them from the lake that Tom just happens to be searching.
I can say that if you have a weak stomach, that image alone is horrible enough to shudder at multiple times. But it’s better than how an infant’s skull and its minute bones are very uncomfortable to view, yet arousing in a twisted manner. If a movie starts off with something so shocking, what else would it have in store?
Seeing the young cast members, including 1917’s Anson Boon and Sex Education’s Emma Mackey, is an absolute treat. The sparse cast means that the actors in the film have to be incredibly strong or else the film is going to fall apart. Thankfully, the children who star in the film The Winter Lake deliver their lines fantastically. They prove to be very versatile actors and are recognizable to fans, but fully embody their distinct roles in the film.
The most important moment of the film is arguably the heart-wrenching monologue in the middle of the film, where Emm’s character breaks down. If the monologue was not delivered in the right way, a viewer would have the tendency to care less about her story. This self-reflection is what drives the rest of the film, and Emma makes it clear she wants us to constantly think about her monologue as the story unfolds. Emma works with the dialogue in ways that are incredibly refreshing, but what stands out is the way she brings smiling and crying at the least expected parts of the movie which makes Holly feel so human. She transforms Holly, instead of acting Emma fundamentally shifts the way she portrays Holly by responding from a place of vulnerability.
The lake gives an unsettling atmosphere in The Winter Lake. Holly narrates a haunting story about what it hides within, and the lake manages to maintain its role every time a scene comes up that is pivotal to the story. The lake also plays a significant role in the chilling way the baby is discovered and it also remains present in several other ghostly scenes.
I find the characters in The Winter Lake immensely compelling. The film does attempt to some degree to present how the events preceding the start of the film impacted Tom’s character. In my opinion, it is ingenious how the movie tries to put Tom’s morality to the test and see if he is actually capable of doing the right thing when it matters the most. Holly too brings her own flaws to the table. I found myself in the film empathizing with her heavily at some points and then later wondering how I would act in a situation where I did not relate to her at all.
While only focusing on a few characters makes the plot easy to comprehend, it causes somewhat of a downfall at the movie’s climax. A person can fairly easily figure out what’s going to happen and who will be involved in the climax. This lack of supporting characters probably makes this aspect of the movie easy to predict. Subsequently, it becomes quite simple to create some reasonable theories and projections for the direction in which the film may head. It does not really take the risks it could have and rightly so it would not be that surprising.
Phil Sheerin’s debut feature documentary, The Winter Lake, is a tight film that proves he has what it takes as a director. The relationships are handled with tender care and the balance between the characters and the themes is adequately set. The ‘blue cold’ look makes the film literally feel cold in places which is a good thing because, after all, the setting is of an Irish village shrouded in mist.
Sheerin did Ireland’s geography justice. It is not a postcard to Ireland, but it is a perfect backdrop for the film’s bleak, frostbitten feel.
This well-structured documentary earns its title as a good-looking thriller with impressive performances The Winter Lake. It does miss out on opportunities to present a more graphic portrayal of The Winter Lake, but it certainly captures the varying struggles and conflicts of diverse families. It gives a powerful portrayal of how some families emerge out of their nightmares stronger, while others succumb to a more tragic fate.
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