Coyote Lake

I happened upon this gem of a movie by accident. What a pleasant surprise. The movie is very well acted, with the mother and daughter putting in a stellar performance. I hope to see them more in the future. The plot is original, grabbing your attention from the very first frame. You can't believe what you are watching. I won't say more, so as not to spoil it for others. This is a real sleeper that you'll enjoy!

It isn't what I would consider a 'thriller, although it is a bit dark. It is a twisted coming of age-coming into your own-wtf have I been party to- kind of movie. Definitely a great Sunday night movie that you just want to relax, enjoy and get a little lost in. I watched this and then tried to explain the plot to my husband. That's when I realized just how extra this movie was. It has so much going on, but at the same time just flows so beautifully, that you don't even realize the amount of horrible things it is dealing with. I loved it from beginning to end.

I don't understand all the negative reviews. Yes this one is slow with very little action. Yet, the story is thought provoking and well acted. The fun part is the ethical questions you are challenged with. This film is not horror or thriller, but it's a great drama. I recommend you try it some night when you are feeling contemplative. I spent quite a bit of time thinking about the characters and the questions raised in this story, which to me indicates a great film.

If you look through the other reviews here you'll see a rash of early 10s and from then on it seems like every review swings wildly between love and extreme dislike.

If I had to guess why it would be around expectations and perhaps marketing too. This film isn't a thriller or a horror in the conventional sense. That's neither bad or good in itself, but if you were expecting a slasher film you'd be disappointed.

Instead Coyote Lake is a dark but gently paced and fairly simple story that is well written, well shot and well acted.

I would definitely recommend it, but I would also advise that the viewer goes in with as little expectations as possible to maximise the experience.

Reviewers seem to either love or hate this film. I gravitate toward the former camp. Seligman did a good job in my opinion of maintaining a suspenseful atmosphere. I thought the three leads played well together, particularly the mother and daughter. Camila Mendes should have a bright future ahead of her. The palm definitely goes to Adriana Barraza for playing one of the most hardboiled customers in film, right up there with performances by legends like Richard Boone and Lee Van Cleef. The fact that this was done by a middle aged woman makes it even more noteworthy. On a final note, this film reminded me very much of a Japanese film from 1964, Onibaba, again about a mother and daughter who murder people, only this time fleeing soldiers for their armor and money. That's worth a watch too. My general impression is that the people who dislike the film like their cinematic gratification fast and furious. For those prepared to give Coyote Lake a chance, you may well find it rewarding.