One of the most difficult genres to conquer is comedy-horror. When the comedic horror film is great (such as with the classic “Shaun of the Dead”), then it’s incredible. But if the comedy doesn’t land and the scares aren’t there, then suddenly you’re left with a tonal mess. Judging by this new clip from the upcoming “Tales from the Lodge,” it appears as if filmmaker Abigail Blackmore has figured out how to succeed where others have failed.
The premise for “Tales from the Lodge,” which is set to premiere in a couple of short days as part of the SXSW Midnighters series, is fairly straightforward. Friends gather at a lodge in the woods and begin telling scary stories. However, as fate would have it, something evil lurks and soon, these friends find themselves in a whole world of trouble. And in the exclusive clip, we are excited to present our readers, we see that the folks are extremely on edge, as they attempt to stay alive.
The clip begins with a setup that has been done countless times in horror films, with the “killer” lurking behind a shower curtain. However, as the scene plays out, as a sort of meta-commentary on the classic horror jump-scare, it’s clear that ‘Lodge’ wants to not only make you jump out of your seat, but also laugh at yourself for doing it.
As mentioned, “Tales from the Lodge” comes writer-director Blackmore, who is making her feature debut with this film. She has assembled a great cast that includes Mackenzie Crook, Dustin Demri-Burns, Laura Fraser, Sophie Thompson, Johnny Vegas, and Kelly Wenham.
“Tales from the Lodge” debuts at as part of the SXSW Midnighters program on March 9.
Here’s the synopsis:
When a group of old friends spend the night telling stories of murders, ghosts, zombies, and possessions they soon become aware of another tale unfolding around them. And this one is real.