The Caretaker

I was lucky enough to recently receive a screener of The Caretaker - and it's excellent. Pacy, unexpectedly complex, brilliantly jump-scary, surprisingly moving and romantic - with great chemistry between the leads, and beautifully put together. LOVE the way it's lit. It all felt early-70s Stephen King, in all the right ways. And the final act is immensely satisfying.

Performances are fantastic across the board - Ben Probert, in particular, offers a masterclass in naturalism.

Luke Tedder's directing and editing is top notch. It's great to see him tackle low-key horror/thriller.

I can't wait to see what these guys do next!

Sometimes a thriller doesn't need to grab you by the throat from the start; it simply invites you in, lets you sit in its world, and then delivers a knockout punch that leaves you breathless. This film does exactly that, proving that a slow start can build into something extraordinary when handled with care and precision which this production executed brilliantly.

Each scene serves as a piece of the puzzle, carefully constructed to develop a connection between the audience and the characters. The writing is sharp and intuitive, allowing the cast to fully embody their roles. The cast deserves immense credit.

The cinematography complements the story beautifully using subtle visual cues to build tension. Every detail, from the set design to the sound editing has been meticulously crafted to serve the story.

A huge round of applause to the director and the entire crew for delivering a film that is not just thrilling but unforgettable!!

The Caretaker is a breath of fresh air for British filmmaking, combining a talented bunch of actors and a well thought out script.

Fantastic performances all round with special mention of Scott Hume as the troubled Charles Aberdeen, Ben Probert as our 'mute hero', complemented by the remaining cast assemble, including a very stern butler played by Dave Morris.

Special mention must go out to the sound, reproduced wonderfully in surround, heightening the suspense, as well as very impressive cinematography.

Wonderfully shot, with more than enough jump scares (and the odd bit of laugh out loud comedy) to keep you on your toes.

I was fortunate enough to attend the preview screening of this film on the 25th January 2025.

I can honestly say I was taken back by the level production that this independent movie has. I was super impressed. The editing and production from Luke Tedder is brilliant.

Performances of the leading cast could not be faulted. Each of them played their roles to perfection and created authentic and chilling characters. The vulnerability and sincerity from Ben Robert playing Eddie was great.

Landa Pictures always work miracles with limited resources but with bundles of passion and talent.

This movie is certainly worth a watch for any horror/thriller fans out there.

I believe this is Landa's best film yet, building on their previous experience and success, while branching out into a new genre for this production. The production value is outstanding, far beyond what you would expect from a low budget independent film, making great use of location filming. The film draws you in with an intriguing set up and a few unnerving scenes, then gradually reveals it's moving emotional centre. It's dark but never too dark or exploitative of its subject matter. Hats off especially to Ben Probert's physical performance, Luke Tedder's masterful direction and to the score.