The Lady of the Lake: The Legend of Lake Ronkonkoma

As someone who grew up there, and spent my teenage years partying at the lake, eating at the deli and partying at Parsnip I know a thing or 2 about the Legend of the lake. Some of what they stated was true, however, no one has died in years. Rumor is that it is bottomless. People stopped going in it many years ago. Okay- about the movie, it is boring and focuses more like a coming of-age and going away to college movie. Def. Not scary and pointless. They could've done so much more with the material. If they wanted to make a teenage movie, they could've done better. There were so many other things they could've focused on and it was just boring imo.

This film is a beautifully captured, and truly mesmerizing story. I truly appreciate the authentic, yet suspenseful story told throughout the entire film - from the story, to the lighting, framing, and idyllic camera work. Many moments made me feel like I was one with the characters, trapped in their moments of suspense, sitting in their guilt with them, or even enjoying a view of the lake, as if I were there too. Capp's direction, Schneider's cinematography, and each actor's performance make this a well-worth watch. If you are looking for a well-written, and pleasantly surprising film, watch The Lady of the Lake!

As a local, I was curious to watch this movie. I should've stayed curious. I really wanted to like this, I was rooting for it. But wow....

HOW did Seth Gilliam agree to do this??? I'm actually stumped. He's not an unknown actor with no credits.

I've been in pretty bad movies myself as a local actor, but this is by far the worst movie I've ever seen. I've seen high school projects that are better than this. Between the acting, the dialogue, the writing, the music... it's all so unnatural and so cheesy, so bad, that it feels awkward to even watch. I'm actually embarrassed for them.

I will say- there are a couple scenes that aren't as bad, and some interesting camerawork, but overall it's just not good. E for Effort?

This film was a B-grade mix of psychological thriller, drama, and horror that somehow scored really high on the film provider's site. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if those ratings came from Maria Capp's friends and family, considering she's directed nine movies according to IMDb. One was more than enough for me, thanks!

The movie weaves in a legend about Princess Ronkonkoma, the daughter of the chief of the Setauket Sachem Tribe, who fell for a chieftain from a rival tribe. Her dad wasn't having it, and some tales say the couple ended up taking a tragic route like Romeo and Juliet, while others suggest the heartbroken princess took her own life (the director strangly chose the third version). Since then, it's said her spirit has been linked to one drowning each year, with over 160 reported at Lake Ronkonkoma since the mid-1800s.

I'm not here to argue the legend, but those high ratings! That's a different story. "Lady of the Lake" tries to blend coming-of-age themes with horror, all while diving into grief and healing. But honestly, none of those genres hit the mark! The film drags along at a slow pace and skips the flashy moments, which means all those mixed elements just fade away because, let's face it, no one really cared about what was happening while watching it.

I personally love the scenery of where the town and the lake itself are filmed. It brings back feelings of nostalgia for small town life and I really love that. I also can tell the younger actors have a good deal of passion for their work. I am a huge fan of Seth Gilliam. He and Julie Dove are my favorite actors in this film. My only critique is I wish the movie had been a little more frightening or even more thrilling but that's just a personal preference. Other than that I thought it very interesting. Especially if you enjoy stories of local legends and folklore. Also the camerawork was excellent.