When Lovely, Dark, and Deep made its World Premiere last year, it made an immediate impression. Starring Georgina Campbell (Barbarian) and written and directed by Teresa Sutherland (The Wind) the plot follows a park ranger named Lennon (Campbell) who has started a new job posting where many have gone missing. She hopes to uncover the origins of a tragedy that goes back to her childhood.
Despite having buzz that includes being named to many best of 2023 lists, the movie is having trouble finding an audience. It has nothing to do with the quality of the film; it is simply because there are too many options out there. For all the articles written about how much of a flop Madame Web is, the fact is it has grossed about $77 million. Add in the surprising success of the Bob Marley biopic, Wonka hanging around, and a Sydney Sweeney rom-com that has quietly made over $200 million since its release, and it is easy to see why a small film like Lovely, Dark, and Deep can be missed. (Dune: Part II coming out is definitely not going to help matters.)
While it is great to see that there are that many options out there (and even better to hear that all the talk of theaters being dead is premature), it does lead to a lot of smaller films getting lost in the shuffle. Lovely, Dark, and Deep is available to stream, but the competition there is just as fierce where big name movies like Oppenheimer reside next to series such as True Detective: Night Country. Sometimes, it seems like we have reached a point where things are too readily available.
Though there are more things to watch now than ever, it does not change that absolute must-see movies do not come around regularly. Lovely, Dark, and Deep is one of those rare films. Campbell is great in a role audiences are invested in even though Lennon remains guarded. It is a strong performance that is easily one of the best of her career.
The story is a well written one that takes its time to develop the characters while also creating an ominous atmosphere. This makes for a riveting watch that is only amplified by the spectacular camerawork. Lovely, Dark, and Deep mixes chaotic storytelling with a tranquil setting. It pulls at anyone watching in different directions, leading to sensory overload, if not in the traditional sense.
There simply is not enough time to take in all of the movies that are available today. On any given week, there will be a number of releases that you want to see. It is the ones that you need to see that you need to make it a point to watch. Lovely, Dark, and Deep is a reminder of what makes indie horror so great and absolutely must be seen.
Lovely, Dark, and Deep is available now
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