After directing a few standout episodes ofM. Night Shyamalan’s hit Apple TV+ seriesServant, filmmaking duo Celine Held and Logan George proceeded to offer theSignsdirector a screenplay they had written to see if Shyamalan might be interested in producing. From there, the rest is history, andCaddo Lakewill begin streaming on Max this week. Its small-scale nature perhaps explains the feature film’s straight-to-streamer release strategy, similar to the plan of Max’s recentStephen King adaptation ofSalem’s Lot.
On that note, there are certain elements ofCaddo Lakethat might tickle the fancy of the renowned author, whose monumental supernatural tales have been turned into films again and again over the years. Boosted bycommitted and heartfelt turns by Dylan O’Brien (Love and Monsters) and Eliza Scanlen (Babyteeth), their new suspenseful drama film requires utter dedication from increasingly distracted viewers — but it will surely pay off in spades if you put in the work.Caddo Lakeoffers a handful of juicy twists and turns that we won’t spoil here, butBlack Mirrorfans might want to give this one a shot.
Paris [Living in] Texas
Caddo Lake (2024)
When an eight-year-old girl goes missing at Caddo Lake, past deaths and disappearances resurface, reshaping a fractured family’s history.
It’s a busy month for star O’Brien, following the release of Jason Reitman’sSaturday Night, where he plays the one and only Dan Aykroyd, but there is no humor to be had inCaddo Lake. And that’s okay, because O’Brien has proven his dramatic talents before as well. As writer-directors Held and George recently told MovieWeb, O’Brien’s supporting turn in Peter Berg’s true story-inspired dramaDeepwater Horizon(2016) is what really stuck out to them and got their wheels spinning in terms of who should portray Paris, the lead role ofCaddo Lake.
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Paris (yes, that’s his first name) works within the eponymous body of water, which does exist in the real world and can be found amid the woodsy terrain on the border of Texas and Louisiana. It’s a picturesque but quietly eerie setting for a mysterious, suspenseful thriller about broken families and unanswered questions.
Paris has a loving and supportive partner in the form of Cee (Diana Hopper), but there’s some shattered history there that perhaps explains Paris' hand tremors and the hesitant way in which he speaks to her. Nonetheless, they bond over their modest house that’s currently under construction along the lake. Perhaps the finished product could lead to a peaceful life together.
Meanwhile, there’s no peace to be had inside the house belonging to Ellie (Scanlen) and her family, with her separate storyline seemingly occurring simultaneously within the same lakeside community. The well-meaning but clearly troubled young woman butts heads with her hotheaded mom Celeste (Lauren Ambrose); their mutual disappointments and missteps dominate every in-house argument. Ellie’s real dad is out of the picture, and Celeste’s new hubby, Daniel (Eric Lange), tries to fill the void and keep things civil. But that only goes so far, especially when Ellie’s eight-year-old step-sister Anna (Caroline Falk) suddenly goes missing one day, spawning a community-wide search that initially yields no results whatsoever.
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Meanwhile, Paris becomes entangled in his own sort of intrigue, venturing deep into the recesses of the lake and neighboring forest upon hearing ominous noises he can’t seem to shake.Caddo Lakesucceeds by keeping up the momentum, often quickly cutting between the pulse-pounding storylines of Ellie and Paris. And at certain times, he and Ellie both see a pack of wolves mysteriously emerge from certain parts of the terrain, almost out of nowhere.
A Murky Mystery Ends Too Soon
So what exactly is this murky body of water hiding? Are there forces at work that are perhaps beyond the scope of human reason? It helps that certain supernatural possibilities are juxtaposed with a gritty, realistic tone, with the cinematography bringing us right into the depths of the lake to create an immersive feel that thereby heightens the overall suspense.It’s too bad the film concludes right when we finally have a decent handle on the inner workings of this strange body of waterand the secrets it harbors, which can finally explain why the families of Paris and Ellie are so tragically torn apart.
Caddo Lakecertainly requires commitment from its viewers, to the effect of: “M. Night Shyamalan has backed this project, which means you should expect at least one or two befuddling twists and turns.” There are a number of blink-and-you-miss-it plot reveals about developments tied to young Anna’s disappearance, so put those phones down as you tune in. And even if the A-story is more or less wrapped up by the end, the uniquely mysterious little world that was created withCaddo Lakebegs for more exploration. Which means we’re both disappointed by the ending and itching for a sequel.
Caddo Lakewill begin streaming on Max Oct. 10. You can watch it then through the link below.
