Minka Kelly, Dermot Mulroney, and Maggie Grace star in “Blackwater Lane,” a supernatural thriller based on B.A. Paris’s bestselling novel “The Breakdown.”
Directed by Jeff Celentano and written by Megan Stewart, Blackwater Lane follows Cass (Kelly) who, after witnessing a tragedy on a secluded road, begins experiencing ghostly encounters.
Highlights
- The movie, Blackwater Lane follows a woman found deceased near Cass’s residence, accompanied by sightings of dead animals in her yard.
- Cass’s husband (played by Dermot Mulroney) dismisses her experiences as products of her active imagination.
- There is potential in the premise, the execution falls short and results in a frustrating viewing experience.
As these supernatural events escalate, Cass unravels a chilling conspiracy.
Produced by Elizabeth Fowler, Warren Ostergard, Shaun Sanghani, and Lucinda Rhodes Thakrar, “Blackwater Lane” will premiere in select US theaters and on VOD on June 21.
Blackwater Lane,” directed by Jeff Celentano (known for 2023’s “The Hill”), is based on B.A. Paris’ 2017 novel “The Breakdown.”
B.A. Paris gained prominence with her 2016 novel “Behind Closed Doors” and has since authored six additional novels, including the source material for the upcoming film.
According to the author’s website, both “Behind Closed Doors” and another novel titled “The Therapist” are being adapted into feature films.
Elizabeth Fowler, who is a producer on “Blackwater Lane,” is involved in the development of these adaptations.
Disclaimer: This review is based on a viewer’s perspective and does not represent any official endorsement or critique.
The Backdrop Of The Movie, Blackwater Lane Is Unsettling
Blackwater Lane (2024)
Cass passes by a stranded motorist late at night, who is later found motionless. As unsettling events unfold, she begins to fear that she might be the next target of the killer.
Genres
Thriller Horror Crime| Release Date | June 21, 2024 |
| Casts | Maggie Grace Dermot Mulroney Minka Kelly |
| Writers | Elizabeth Fowler B.A. Paris |
| Directors | Jeff Celentano |
The movie “Blackwater Lane” creates an atmosphere of suspense and unease.
For instance, Cass cannot shake the memory of the woman she believes she could have rescued, burdened by overwhelming guilt.
She also grapples with receiving silent calls and an unsettling sensation that she is being observed.
Similarly, Cass’s husband, played by Dermot Mulroney dismisses her experiences as products of her active imagination.
However, a visitor to their home suggests that the property may be haunted.
As depicted in the trailer, the storyline unfolds with a woman found deceased near Cass’s residence, accompanied by sightings of dead animals in her yard.
Mulroney’s character expresses concern that Cass’s medication might be contributing to hallucinations.
And it might have led her to question her grasp on reality as supernatural occurrences intensify around her.
Overall, Cass’s husband is portrayed as someone who initially dismisses her experiences as figments of her imagination.
This skepticism creates added tension and uncertainty for Cass as she navigates the supernatural events and unsettling incidents unfolding around her.
Blackwater Lane Review: Bland Predictable And Failed Editing
The film seems to blend psychological suspense with supernatural elements, exploring themes of guilt, perception, and the unraveling of reality.
Overall, “Blackwater Lane” promises to deliver a tense and gripping narrative driven by psychological twists and eerie supernatural encounters.
Fans of B.A. Paris’s novels and viewers may find this film engaging, particularly with its focus on unraveling mysteries and questioning reality.
However, this isn’t the case for everyone, as the perception differs.
The supernatural thriller BLACKWATER LANE, based on the best-selling novel THE BREAKDOWN by B.A. Paris, is coming next month; see the trailer and poster https://t.co/NwbWXfyqUB #BlackwaterLane #BAParis #TheBreakdown pic.twitter.com/gLwuflqxU9
— Rue Morgue (@RueMorgue) May 15, 2024
According to Emilie Black’s review, “Blackwater Lane” is characterized as bland.
The film neither reaches a level of being outright bad nor excels in being particularly good; it simply exists.
Black suggests that while there is potential in the premise, the execution falls short and results in a frustrating viewing experience.
The film fails to fully capitalize on them, leading to a lackluster presentation that may leave audiences underwhelmed.
Similarly, in my view, there’s a scene in the movie where Cass encounters something scary, but then ends up choking on a plastic curtain by accident.
This unexpected twist had me laughing hard.
It felt like a moment where the seriousness of the situation suddenly turned into unintended comedy.
Whether it was the way it was edited or just the bizarre sequence of events, it definitely caught me off guard and made me chuckle.
It’s one of those moments that sticks out because of its unexpected humor in what was supposed to be a tense scene.
Moreover, the movie had a cliché plot and cheesy jump scare music.
The storyline felt predictable and familiar, following typical supernatural thriller tropes without bringing anything new or refreshing to the genre.
The jump scare moments were accompanied by overly dramatic music that felt exaggerated and didn’t effectively build genuine suspense.
For a definitive review, however, one would need to watch the film upon its release and assess how effectively it delivers on its intriguing premise.
