IR Film Review: CAVEAT [Shudder]

The crux of "Caveat" is based in the structure that everything needs not to have an exact reason. The film itself may be an exploration of the consequential cause and effect but the way it is built in the perception of the characters is both understandable in mood but also ethereally unconnected. The plot involves a guy Barrett asking an acquaintance (Isaac) to come up and watch over his niece (Olga) whom he has says has mental problems in an isolated house. When Isaac arrives with Barrett he finds the house is surrounded by water on a small island and there are other caveats to staying at the house (including having a locked leather harness to prevent him from leaving the house ---for undisclosed reason). There are references to foxes that scream which is not fully explained or explored. The logic of the situation pushes the limit but the beginning salvo involving a talesman of sort has promise. Those specific scenes involving a doll as a foreshadowing device are the most eerie. Despite other attempts to put other tension builds in the story, this is the only one that truly works.

Without giving spoilers, there is also a parallel story structure going on concurrently but again its logic and connectivity is tenuous at best and a contrivance at worst. The tension can be good at times but the entire film is layered in heavy darkness (which can be good in a movie theater but is less encompassing on the small screen). The cat and mouse ideal as well as any other stimuli that is influencing the location is left fairly in the ether for effect but without some more grounded mythology of sorts, a lampshade tilting at times is not as impactful as it could be. The film would have benefitted from a more over-the-top sound design but as is, it more meanders along even when it tries to pop forward reveals. Even the final shots (which should have more significance) feel flat because what is gained in a larger context is not revealed versus what must be protected. C-

By Tim Wassberg