The cinematic release that has horror masters James Wan and Bong Joon Ho trembling has officially arrived in UK cinemas. Keeper, the latest unsettling feature from director Osgood Perkins, promises to be a sensory assault of pure terror, backed by an all-star chorus of approval from within the genre.
A Sinister Getaway Unfolds
This new eerie tale follows Liz, portrayed by the talented Tatiana Maslany, as she embarks on what should be a romantic anniversary trip. Along with her boyfriend Malcolm (Rossif Sutherland), she travels to his remote family cabin. The idyllic setting, however, quickly curdles into a nightmare. Once there, Liz begins to experience increasingly sinister phenomena, leading her on a slow, dreadful journey to uncover the home's horrifying true nature.
Perkins, the mind behind cult favourites like Longlegs and The Blackcoat’s Daughter, is renowned for his ability to craft skin-crawling atmospheres, and Keeper appears to be no exception to his filmmaking rulebook.
Acclaim from Horror Royalty
Ahead of its release, the film has garnered staggering praise from some of the most respected names in horror and beyond. Bong Joon Ho, the Oscar-winning director of Parasite, declared that ‘Osgood Perkins has a natural talent for discomfort that transforms into fear.’
The plaudits continued to roll in from other cinematic heavyweights. Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead, Alien: Romulus) described the film as ‘a sensory experience of pure terror,’ while Eli Roth (Hostel) likened it to ‘a surreal David Lynch movie.’ Visionary director Guillermo Del Toro offered a uniquely poetic take, calling Keeper ‘horror origami that skillfully folds into itself.’
Perhaps most tellingly, Saw creator and modern horror icon James Wan labelled it ‘a terrifying, ghostly descent into madness.’ Further endorsement came from Terrifier's Damien Leone, who stated that ‘Perkins further establishes himself as a formidable voice in horror,’ and even video game legend Hideo Kojima heaped praise, writing that ‘Osgood Perkins blends new fear and surprise.’
A Divided Critical Reception
Despite the overwhelming acclaim from fellow filmmakers, the critical reception has been notably more measured. At the time of writing, Keeper holds a lukewarm 65% rating on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.
Some publications found elements to admire. Discussing Film acknowledged certain scenes as ‘nightmare fuel’ and celebrated the ‘riveting lead performance from Tatiana Maslany,’ though they felt the film ultimately ‘fails to cross the finish line in one piece.’ The Guardian appreciated the film's focus, noting ‘the way it prioritizes its visceral effect on an audience over a desire to bend that story into a modern relationship parable.’
Other reviews were less forgiving. The Hollywood Reporter critiqued the narrative as ‘gossamer-thin and feather-light despite Maslany’s meaty performance,’ suggesting it is better viewed as a mood piece. IndieWire was harsher, stating the film lacked ‘chemistry, clarity, and conviction’ and hit ‘like a crumbling marriage.’ NME echoed a sense of disappointment, writing that when the film's true nature is revealed, its ‘artful presentation feels like even more of a cheat.’
For audiences, this stark divide between peer and critic opinion means that Keeper stands as one of the most talked-about and contentious horror releases of the season. The film is in cinemas across the UK now, inviting viewers to decide for themselves.
Fans of Perkins' work will not have to wait long for his next project. His subsequent horror film, The Young People, is already in production. Maslany reunites with the director for a third time, starring alongside a high-profile cast including Nicole Kidman, Heather Graham, and Johnny Knoxville.
