The Darker the Lake Review

3 star creepy supernatural thriller.

The Darker the Lake is a 2022 supernatural crime thriller written and directed by Lok Kwan Woo (White Terror, Angels Never Cry). It is available in the UK on digital platforms from 21st March 2022 courtesy of (Yet) Another Distribution Company and 101 Films.

“My name is Lea Fisher. I’m 18 years old. All my friends are dead now. I’m not sure, but I might have killed them.”

In the small town of St. Michael Im Lungau, the population has been rocked by a series of murders and suicides. The latest one is particularly shocking, and old man shoots dead his best friend beside the lake.

Charged with investigating is Tamara (Elyse Levesque – The Big Ugly, Ready or Not), who has been given a new partner Lukas (Vladimir Burlakov – Macho Man, Chasing Paper Birds), much to her annoyance.

Lukas believes that there may be a connection to some video footage he found from 30 years previously when a young girl named Lea (Gina Stiebitz – Dark, Womb) tells of a game that she and her friends have been playing. Called Painkiller, the players began to die in mysterious circumstances, similar to current events.

Just to make it more interesting, this investigation hits very close to home. The now grown up Lea (Veronica Ferres – Crisis, Siberia) is Tamara’s mother and she most definitely doesn’t want to talk about what happened all those years ago. Can they work out what is happening before anyone else is killed?

“We have to talk to your Mum one more time. I don’t think this is just a game.”

The Darker the Lake is an enjoyable film. It has firm Nordic Noir undertones and the lovely Austrian scenery makes a pretty but sinister backdrop to the events. It’s a good idea for a story too, however it gets a bit confusing from time to time as we flash backwards and forwards.

There are also lots of things mentioned but not elaborated upon, for example, how come Lea is suddenly blind? The acting is good and the few special effects are well done. There is a nice sort-of-twist and although not everything about the plot is well explained or logical, it it nevertheless certainly well worth a watch.

“If your revenge is pure, your candle extinguish and you are the chosen one. You will have your revenge and I will eat your pain, for I am the Painkiller.”

The Darker the Lake is available on Digital Platforms from 21st March 2022.