The Lady of the Lake: The Legend of Lake Ronkonkoma

This film was a B-grade mix of psychological thriller, drama, and horror that somehow scored really high on the film provider's site. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if those ratings came from Maria Capp's friends and family, considering she's directed nine movies according to IMDb. One was more than enough for me, thanks!

The movie weaves in a legend about Princess Ronkonkoma, the daughter of the chief of the Setauket Sachem Tribe, who fell for a chieftain from a rival tribe. Her dad wasn't having it, and some tales say the couple ended up taking a tragic route like Romeo and Juliet, while others suggest the heartbroken princess took her own life (the director strangly chose the third version). Since then, it's said her spirit has been linked to one drowning each year, with over 160 reported at Lake Ronkonkoma since the mid-1800s.

I'm not here to argue the legend, but those high ratings! That's a different story. "Lady of the Lake" tries to blend coming-of-age themes with horror, all while diving into grief and healing. But honestly, none of those genres hit the mark! The film drags along at a slow pace and skips the flashy moments, which means all those mixed elements just fade away because, let's face it, no one really cared about what was happening while watching it.

As someone who grew up on Long Island I loved seeing our local legends on the big screen. I adored all the outdoor shots, especially the ones at sunset and at night. It feels almost surreal to see locations you've been to in real life on screen. I thought the characters were believable, you can see how different the grieving process is for each one. Some characters are stuck, while others try to find a new normal moving forward. Jamie was one of my favorite characters, and seeing them spending times with their friends, not going out and about but just meeting on the shore or someone's house to hang out, really does bring back memories from when I was a teen.

Watching from across the country in Los Angeles, learning about this actual legend of Lake Ronkonkoma was an incredibly exciting experience. The small town full of culture and character, with its gorgeous scenery and natives, are all beautifully captured to help viewers understand the history and tight-knit community behind Ronkonkoma.

I was particularly drawn to the music and sound design that allowed for an intensely eerie setting. I definitely felt that I was being watched by the lady of the lake from my own room (and might have even looked over my shoulders a few times while watching).

These intense moments were softened, though, with light-hearted ones sandwiched in between. Following the event of a tragic loss, this film reminds viewers that platonic, familial, and romantic love/support can help individuals through periods of grief.

This film is a must-watch in many circumstances, as the story contains elements bound to appeal to any viewer: history, horror, diversity, romance, comedy, and themes of family. Watch and enjoy with loved ones, or alone (if you dare)!

I personally love the scenery of where the town and the lake itself are filmed. It brings back feelings of nostalgia for small town life and I really love that. I also can tell the younger actors have a good deal of passion for their work. I am a huge fan of Seth Gilliam. He and Julie Dove are my favorite actors in this film. My only critique is I wish the movie had been a little more frightening or even more thrilling but that's just a personal preference. Other than that I thought it very interesting. Especially if you enjoy stories of local legends and folklore. Also the camerawork was excellent.

As someone who grew up there, and spent my teenage years partying at the lake, eating at the deli and partying at Parsnip I know a thing or 2 about the Legend of the lake. Some of what they stated was true, however, no one has died in years. Rumor is that it is bottomless. People stopped going in it many years ago. Okay- about the movie, it is boring and focuses more like a coming of-age and going away to college movie. Def. Not scary and pointless. They could've done so much more with the material. If they wanted to make a teenage movie, they could've done better. There were so many other things they could've focused on and it was just boring imo.