Caddo Lake

Once you figure out what's going on, the story itself after the fact isn't exactly groundbreaking. However, the way they pull it off is pretty impressive. I don't think people consider enough the degree of coordination that's required to apply pacing and tone in any given film, especially when you throw in special effects and lighting potentially dependent on time of day. This movie does all of it pretty flawlessly, and creates an almost tactile momentum that carries you through. While I wasn't surprised it ended when it did, not once was I looking for it or had it in mind until it was over. That's usually a clear mark of competence for storytelling. The final scene did feel a bit empty, though, for reasons I can't quite explain. Maybe a clearer angle of a final, knowing look from Celeste would have remedied this, but that's just a stray thought, not genuine criticism.

Acting was spot on for everyone involved. Dylan O'Brien is something of a standout. I've seen his work before but this one really let him shine. Lauren Ambrose also completely sells the manic/distressed persona and just became this person. Eliza Scanlen not once failed to sell me what was happening on-screen. Talents like these make it so much easier to lose yourself in whatever is being shown and it's always appreciated.

Great watch. Adept filmmakers on display and I'm here for it.

While the story progresses slowly it's never dull or boring, the slow burn builds mystery and maybe even a little confusion. Towards the middle it all starts to come together and it just gets better and better. Dylan's performance is spot on and in general all the acting was really good. It was not scary, it was mysterious and more of a thriller. The visuals were great, enough that it should have had a premier in the movie theater.

Overall if you like mystery this is definitely a must watch, very entertaining and enjoyable. The story is really good and I didn't look into what people were saying it was based on but maybe that's a good thing. I doubt they copied anything but maybe they based it off a previous movie.

I went in knowing nothing and I think it's better if you do so. But it's also difficult to get past the very slow set up. The first 1/4 of the movie, nothing is happening and it feels pretty boring.... and while stuff starts happening at that point, it's only halfway through that the movie really becomes interesting. But when it does, it's so worth it. I understand the build up is essential and necessary for the rest of the movie to work but I still think they could have done it with a better pacing; and if they had managed that, I would probably give this movie an 8/10. And for a movie with no big name actors, they are all doing a great job. Highly recommended!

I thought it was a nice movie! And I might watch it a second time to see if I missed anything. Don't read spoilers for the best way of viewing!

It starts slow, but the story builds up nicely and the writers made clever decisions. At a certain point I made some wild guesses about where the story was moving towards. And while I was wrong, the things that made me make those wild guesses were immediately answered in the film. In the end the story wraps up perfectly and doesn't leave any big parts open or unanswered. That's always a nice thing, if you ask me.

Acting is mostly great and the special effects were fine. The music did not leave a lasting effect, but it worked ok.

Rare is the movie that motivates me to see it again right away to understand what I had just watched. Caddo Lake is such a case. In the first viewing, I ended up totally confused, but with some understanding of what was going on from the last part of the movie. So I decided to watch it again an hour later to understand the whole story, and then every scene from the start made sense within the film plot.

The twists and turns of this movie make you pay attention to every detail throughout the hour and a half of its duration, which is not common in movies nowadays. So kudos to the two screenwriters and directors.