THE LODGER is an updated version of the Alfred Hitchcock 1927 silent film of the same title based on the bestselling 1913 novel by Marie Belloc Lowndes. Now this adaption of is more related to the novel than it is Hitchcock’s 1927 adaption, and this film is set in the present day. Now you might be wondering why the film is set present day when the novel was written in 1913. According to the director, he decided while writing the screenplay that he wanted to be faithful to the novel, but give it more of a updated and contemporary interpretation of the book. Although I have never read the 1913 novel, I have to agree that for a film with such a complicated and complex story, from a business end that it was a smart decision to do so. By doing so, they made the film in such a way that it will attract more of an audience and keep the viewer more interested.
This version of THE LODGER is set in present day Los Angles. A serial killer is hunting and killing prostitutes on West Hollywood’s Sunset Stripe. Detective Chandler Manning (Alfred Molina) along with his rookie partner Street Wilkenson ( Shane West) are on the case. But this is no ordinary case, whoever is doing the killings is not only copying the killings of Jack the Ripper, but is also using the same style committing the murders as a case that Manning thought he solved a couple of years prior. Meanwhile a couple named Joe (Donal Logue) and Ellen Bunting (Hope Davis) whom are trying to make ends meet are renting out their guest house. In comes in a young guy named Malcolm Slaight (Simon Baker) He is a mysterious man, who just wants his privacy. He pays the rent up front and is very keen of being left alone. The two parties fates will collide when the mystery ravels down to who is behind the murders. The killer is hell bent on including family members of the detectives and getting innocent people involved as well. THE LODGER ends with a spine twisting ending that is sure to keep you guessing to the very end.
The screenplay for THE LODGER was written by it’s director David Ondaatje; and while the script does have it’s ups and downs. It’s a pretty decent effort. The story is well written and even though the plot does move slowly in the beginning of the film, by the second act it begins to keep pace and picks up. I did find the story to get a little confusing and maybe a tad to informative towards the middle of the film. There is a lot going on in this story so it is at times hard to comprehend everything if your not paying attention, but in the end it all comes together with it’s shocking twists and reveals. The character development is very good, as we do learn a lot about each character, and the dialogue (Although full with a lot of useless swearing) Is pretty well written.
The acting in the film is pretty good. These are some very complex and odd characters in this film ,but each part was cast pretty good. I can’t say that each actor was type cast in this film as these roles really take a certain kind of actor to develop into them. So in a nutshell the acting is pretty much one of the films strong points. The movie Production value was not half bad. I mean it’s your pretty basic sets, which mainly consisted of apartments, homes, a police station and morgue, as well as your on locations throughout Hollywood. The film did have some pretty good make-up effects as well as some very impressive lighting.
Overall, THE LODGER may not be a film for everyone. I think people who enjoy the many crime shows on television and fans of Hitchcock films and the Jack the Ripper story will really get into this one. It’s not a film for everyone, but it is a good well rounded film. I think if Hitchcock was alive today as well as Marie Belloc Lowndes I think they would give this film their seal of approval.
– Horror Bob
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- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
