Caveat (2020)

A lone drifter, Isaac (Jonathan French) suffering from partial memory loss accepts a job to look after a psychologically troubled woman in an abandoned house on an isolated island.

Here’s one for horror fans. CAVEAT is a slow burn, creepy, psychological horror that will have you thinking long after the end titles have finished scrolling. There are almost no jump scares in CAVEAT. It’s all about the claustrophobic atmosphere; the mouldy, rundown location; the dimly lit cinematography; the eerie imagery (that rag doll rabbit playing the drums is very creepy!); and the pervasive sense of dread. It runs for just 88 minutes but packs a lot in that short time frame. It’s Damian McCarthy’s directorial debut and the lack of experience shows here and there. Unfortunately, the use of flashbacks to fill us in on what is really happening often breaks the mood. But McCarthy’s someone to keep an eye on given the effectiveness of this first outing on what is clearly a low budget. An original script that is worth a watch if you are a fan of this genre.

In Australia, you can watch CAVEAT streaming on Shudder. Check your local streaming providers for availability.