When drifter and amnesiac Isaac (Jonathan French) accepts a job from dodgy cockney client Moe (Ben Caplan), he soon discovers he is in for so much more than he bargained for. The job he is offered consists of “babysitting” Moe’s psychologically troubled niece, Olga, played by Leila Sykes. Olga resides in a crumbling dilapidated house on an island, in the middle of a lake. Despite his reservations, Isaac accepts and on arrival at the house, Moe explains that he must wear a harness and chain in order to prevent him from entering certain rooms of the house. Isaac hesitantly agrees and thus begins his troubles.
After experiencing several eerie disturbances, heralded by the sporadic animation of a mechanical rabbit and the erratic behaviour being displayed by Olga when she is not in a catatonic state, Isaac begins to uncover the dark family secrets that are hidden in the peeling walls and haunted foundations of the house. Soon he begins to sense that this is not the first time he has stepped across the threshold of this particular house.
another fine example of the standard of horror that is being produced from Ireland at the moment, making incredible use of the dark history of the culture and land itself.
Caveat is director and writer Damian McCarthy’s directorial debut, yet the feature shines with a craft finely honed. The atmospheric tension is palpable, with the setting of an isolated and decaying house perfectly reflecting the mental state of the two main characters Isaac and Olga. Much like other infamous haunted dwellings like The Shining’s (1980) Overlook Hotel or The Amityville Horror (1979) house, McCarthy has created the feeling that our protagonist is constantly being observed, whether it be by the young inhabitant or by the house, attributing malevolent anthropomorphic qualities to the dingy, damp walls and whispering halls. There are plenty of extremely effective jump scares, enough to satiate those who follow the James Wan school of terror, as well as a steady creeping sense of dread for those who prefer their horror slow and gradual.
Caveat is another fine example of the standard of horror that is being produced from Ireland at the moment, making incredible use of the dark history of the culture and land itself. The film is also an incredible exercise in the creativity that abounds when filmmakers are restricted by certain aspects such as budget and location. Caveat is an atmospheric set piece that is guaranteed to make the hairs on your arm stand up, exploring the cruelty of human nature and the frailty of the human psyche.
CAVEAT IS OUT NOW ON ACORN MEDIA BLU-RAY
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CAVEAT – YGRAINE’S ARCHIVE
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