I went in completely blind only knowing Dylan O'Brien rides a boat and it payed off, absolutely go in blind! This really reminded me of a great series on Netflix which I won't spoil like a dumbass (iykyk). Very slow start that'll probably bore most (just like that series on Netflix did for me at first) but it does a great job at setting up several mysteries and I was fully intrigued for most of it. It's an engaging puzzle to solve. The way everything falls into place is quite satisfying and it's a mindfuck, i'm still not sure I understood everything by the end. I predicted a few twists ahead of time but others completely surprised me. A familial concept with good execution. Really liked Dylan O'Brien's grief/guilt ridden character with a mysterious past he did a good job and so did Eliza Scanlen (who kinda looks like a younger Alison Pill?) they both carried the movie and had enough complexity and emotional impact for me to get invested. I dig the swamp setting it's scary, muddy disgusting, and refreshing as I don't see it used often in that capacity.

"Karnack East grey" is my new favorite ridiculous color name.

[spoiler] If you've unspoilered this review and still haven't watched it, please, I know I say this about a lot of things, but please watch this blind. Please. Don't read ahead, stop reading all the one liner zingers on Letterboxd, just watch this as blind as you possibly can, it's fantastic and deserves a fresh, spoiler-free viewing.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]With that out of the way, what a movie. Emotionally heavy with clever time warp antics and a lovely, swampy aesthetic, Caddo Lake is the stand-out surprise of the year for me. I went in expecting Amazon Prime streaming fodder and came out thoroughly invested and pretty emotionally rocked. Frequency meets The Marsh Kings Daughter, for anyone that's watched the same, niche movies as me. Almost deserves a second viewing to pick up all the smaller details that will have assuredly washed over me on the initial viewing before I knew what was actually going down. I can almost guarantee that when I do, this review will probably jump another half a star. Fantastic stuff, Celine Held and Logan George, you have my attention. I'll be watching anything you create going forward, and I'll make time to go back to Topside the moment October is over.[/spoiler]

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/caddo-lake-review-strong-performances-and-visual-storytelling-elevate-this-multi-layered-mystery/

"Caddo Lake delivers an engaging home viewing experience, supported by an intricately constructed narrative and intriguing reveals that keep audiences captivated until the very end. Celine Held and Logan George skillfully balance the central mystery with solid technical execution, primarily through visual storytelling.

Despite some emotional and thematic gaps that could have strengthened the connection with the characters, the movie succeeds in both entertainment and fascinating intrigue, showing M. Night Shyamalan's influence even in a producer role.

For viewers who enjoy a thriller with multiple layers and nuances, there haven't been many opportunities like this one this year."

Rating: B