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Today I wanted some food from a specific place that happened to be behind the video store I sometimes go to. I figured I would put an order in, and while I was waiting I would rent a movie to watch for my review. I forgot to get the sauce that I like best, but the food was still good. While eating it, I put in Sam’s Lake. When I was looking for a movie to take home with me, Sam’s Lake caught my eye. I was a little worried about it because it is a new release, but the film itself was made in 2005. Did I really want to watch a movie that took four years to find a release to DVD? Obviously I did decide to watch it. Sometimes this pays off for me, sometimes it doesn’t. If I don’t give a film a chance though, there is no way to find out.
Sam (Fay Masterson) has decided to take her group of friends to her retreat cottage where she grew up. Sam was named after the lake, so she feels close to it. Her group of friends feels like a family to her. Sam’s friends include: Dominik (Salvatore Antonio), who is Sam’s boyfriend; Franklin (Stephen Bishop) and his girlfriend Melanie (Megan Fahlenbock); and then there is Kate (Sandrine Holt), the odd person out. Her childhood friend, Jesse (William Gregory Lee), still lives in the area. After they get settled in, Jesse has everyone out for a night by a fire and telling stories. The stories start out light hearted enough, but Jesse gets Sam to tell the story of a family that used to live near by. The story is how a young boy ended up murdering his entire family, and has never been caught. Sam swears that it is all true, and even takes them to the house where it was supposed to happen. When they find a journal that appears to have been written by the guy from the story, things take a serious turn for the worse.
According to writer/director Andrew C. Erin, the story for Sam’s Lake is based on stories that were told where he grew up at. Because of this they give the movie the based on a true story label. The DVD proclaims that the producers of Twilight bring us this supernatural horror. In truth, Sam’s Lake has nothing supernatural in it. It actually falls more into the slasher genre if anything. If you don’t like slow paced movies, I suggest you stay away from this film then. The first 40 minutes does seem to drag by. They head to the lake, talk, hang out and watch the stars, talk some more…you get the picture. This is what one would expect people to do, and there is plenty of character development, but watching them do this on film ends up being rather boring. This is broken up by the story, the trip the house, and by seeing someone moving around once in a while at the edge of the frame. This was not enough for everyone that watched this movie though. I have read where some people turned it off before getting to the big twist. Some that made it to the twist had simply lost interest by that point. I know there have been a lot of slasher films set by lakes, which was another big complaint, but Sam’s Lake makes an effort to be different. I consider myself lucky that I can work my way through a slow paced movie. I do have my limits, but I feel I have a higher tolerance than most people. I’m glad for this, because this movie did get better once the twist came.
Outside of the slow pace, my biggest complaint about Sam’s Lake would be the effects. I’ve often said that a slasher film needs to have effects. I know some of the classic slasher films didn’t have any, but at least they would show some of the kills on screen, even if they were bloodless. Sam’s Lake doesn’t have a high body count, and that is okay, but only one kill is shown on screen. In this kill a very sharp stake is pushed through a body. That is the only effect to be found. All other kills take place completely off screen, or just out of the frame. Even though I was disappointed by this, I can’t fault a low budget movie for not having many effects. The acting wasn’t half bad. Some of the main cast had some bad acting here and there, but for the most part they were all able to pull it off.
One of the things that worked for me after the twist was the way everyone reacted to it. Their first reaction was to run, and keep running. They didn’t worry about fighting back so much, which is something else some people didn’t like. I guess I feel like that is what I would do if someone was after me. As long as I had the chance to run, and felt like I could get away, then that is what I would be doing. Being a swimmer, I know that I could out run someone in the long run. Sam’s Lake was picked up at a few movie conventions the year after it had been finished. It got mixed reviews from the conventions, as it still does now. I’m a little surprised that it took so long to be picked up for a DVD release though. Even though this isn’t the most original film (what film is now days?), it did managed to surprise me with the twist. It was what I expected it to be, but it was also more. By the end of the movie, I was really enjoying it. Sam’s Lake was a nice little surprise. If a slow pace doesn’t bother you too much, then I really think you should give this movie a shot.
3 out of 5 What would you do with a killer on your tail?
Well howdy Miss Heather and Miss Rachel. Sorry to have been gone so long, but I managed to rebuild a puter CPU the buddy who carried me to the emergency room that resulted in emergency surgery in late September. So now I finally have a working puter again after far too long a time away from the net.
Once again Professor Heather, you continue to make me aware of horror movies I have not heard of. For that sweet lady, I will always be in your debt maam. This is one that I want to add to my NF watch list. I understand that it has a very slow pace. But like you, I have the ability to normally not let that aspect ruin a flick for me. Besides, you have noted that it actually took a positive turn for you after the twist, so I suspect it would do the same for me as well. So you have me both curious and interested in this one you fabulous flippered female you (grinning).
To answer your question, if being chased by a killer, I suspect I would run initially. But I am not young and a swimmer by training, lmao. I am old, falling apart, and terribly out of shape from both 3 surgeries in the space of 3 weeks and life in general, roflmao. So I am confident that unlike you, I could NOT outdistance my pursurer when all was said and done. Given that I would not even attempt to maam. I would run away initially, simply to put a bit of distance between us. Then I would look for weapons I could use, and would then set as many traps for the pursurer as I could.
I reckon I am one of those folks who is not necessarily afraid of dying per se. I have seen it enough over the course of my life that it does not scare me anymore. But I am scared to death of going out with only a wimper. I have always said, if I have to go, at least let me take the sob with me that kills me. So that is what I would do my best to accomplish - take the pursuer out, hopefully before he takes me out. Or at the very least, at the same time. So for me it would hopefully be a case of old age/experience coupled with stealth and cunning overcoming youth and vigor by what I can only expect to be a much younger, much fitter pursuer trying to kill me. Sort of the old bull and young bull looking down into the valley at a herd of cows, but that is another moral of sorts too, roflmao.
Another great review Miss Heather. Sorry to be gone for so long, and it is good to be back maam (smiling, tips my hat).