The Lake

You would think that when a filmmaker does a short horror film they would be sure keep it tight and concise for maximum impact in an abbreviated time. Well, that is not achieved in The Lake.

A young couple and their dog are on a short road trip where they stop by an abandoned farm. The couple seem to have known each other for some time based on their conversation. The man then recounts a story of a horrific family murder at the farm house that had occurred some years back. These must have been when the two of them were children since the woman remembers the incident but still needs to have it all explained to her (so really for us, the audience). Then the two drive off in their VW Bug to a nearby lake. There they have a picnic, make out and go walk in the wood. Strange things start to happen, that seem to be attached to the murders, yet it is never clear how. The whole movies then descends in to a haunting that is more a muddle of confusion that is lacking in real scares. The Lake, while short, is not very good when it could have been.