Little Bone Lodge Review | Road Rash Reviews

3 star well written and unexpected home invasion thriller.

Little Bone Lodge is a 2023 British thriller film written by Neil Linpow (Slumber, War Games) who also takes the lead role. It is directed by Matthias Hoene (Cockneys Vs. Zombies) and enjoyed its world premiere at Glasgow Film Festival.

It is available to stream on UK Digital Platforms from 22nd May 2023 courtesy of Signature Entertainment.

“It is said that Mother is the name for God on the lips and hearts of all children. She can be glorious or terrible, benevolent or filled with wrath,”

Maisy (Sadie Soverall – Fate: The Winx Saga) is a young girl living on a working farm in the remote Scottish Highlands with her Mama (Joely Richardson – Color out of Space, Event Horizon) and Pa (Roger Ajogbe – The Bystanders). Together, Maisy and Mama look after Pa, who was left severely disabled following the car crash which also took the life of their son, Ollie.

Tonight it is Pa’s birthday and as a storm rages outside they settle down to enjoy the cake that Maisy has made for him. Their celebrations are interrupted by a loud banging on the door. Outside is a young man, Matty (Harry Cadby – Red Rose) who begs them for help. His car has come off the road in the storm and his brother Jack (Neil Linpow) has been badly injured.

Reluctantly, Mama agrees to take them in and patches Jack up, but it soon becomes apparent to us that the two young men are hiding something, as we see them argue about a bag full of money. We also see that Matty is a troubled young man with severe mental health issues. When Mama discovers their secret, that they are armed robbers on the run, they take her family hostage, but they aren’t the only ones with secrets to protect and they have most certainly chosen the wrong family to mess with.

“I do not fear the fire, because I am the fire.”

Little Bone Lodge is an excellent film, well written and a great idea for a thriller. It’s packed with twists and turns and is genuinely shocking in places. The acting is also really good and very believable.

This home invasion thriller is elevated by Joely Richardson who is brilliant, both compassionate and terrifying in equal measure. Neil Linpow also does a good job of standing up to her and portraying a nuanced character.

There are a few issues, the film is very dark in a lot of places, making it difficult to see what is going on and the dialogue seems very quiet, you really have to concentrate to work out what they are saying which does break the immersion a bit.

That being said however, it’s a cracking story and certainly well worth a watch.

“We play it out tonight. Happy families yeah? You don’t do nothing you’ll be alright and tomorrow we are gone. You have my word. Otherwise, I could just finish it now.”