We
tend to idealize Native legends in a hippy-dippy New Agey in-tune-with-nature
kind of way. That sort of thinking will get you killed in these mountains. Ann
and Rich’s son Eric was not the first teen to go missing in these parts, but
her maternal connection tells her he is still up there somewhere. The freshly
divorced parents are sure to find something when they head up the mountain in
Christian Larsen & Brock Manwill’s Lore
(trailer
here),
which screens during this year’s Dances with Films.
Apparently,
Eric did not take his parents split well, so he retreated into the woods to
have himself a long think. When he failed to emerge, Sheriff Paul and his men
thoroughly searched their face of the mountain and the tribal police handled
their side, but no trace was found. They assume (and hope) Eric is actually a
runaway, but Ann’s dreams tell her differently. Eventually, Rich reluctantly agrees
to one more private search, with John, the Native American guide recommended by
their pastor. Of course, as soon as they get a fair distance into the woods,
they start hearing eerie sounds. It soon becomes clear something is trying to
scare them off, but it only spurs Ann to continue forward with more urgency.
Aesthetically
and temperamentally, Lore is a
betwixt-and-between sort of film. Yes, there is definitely something in those
woods. Larsen & Manwill certainly do not want viewers to get too
comfortable, but they are still obviously more interested in their character
study of the grieving parents. Lyndsey Lantz and Max Lesser are quite good as
the divorced couple, suggesting all kinds of shared history, still remembered
grievances, and lingering affection. Sean Wei Mah also has real presence and
outdoorsy cred as John. As a further plus, it is always cool to see Eric “Work
Ethic” Roberts do his thing as reasonable Sheriff Paul (his early scene in Lore was probably the fifth film he shot
that day).
However,
there is no getting around the fact Larsen & Manwill over-promise and
under-deliver in the mythical beast department. They also drop some monster “lore”
that they never circle back to. Still, most viewers will get sucked into the
couple’s tragic drama regardless of their expectations (it is worth noting DWF
did not program Lore for their
midnight section, so we can’t fault their positioning).
