Before we begin, let's get something out of the way. This is not a multi-million-dollar Hollywood production. If you're hoping Morgan Freeman will solve this mystery with a philharmonic orchestra blaring, you could be opening yourself up for disappointment. S'ids Lake is an indie movie, and a decent one at that. It also looks filmically decent, especially when compared with many of its peers. While not all performances are even across the board, most are excellent, and I was genuinely impressed with the lead, Kristian Pierce. I found his onscreen charisma highly engaging and wouldn't be surprised if he goes on to do much bigger things. The story is also captivating, right from the beginning. Although there are times when the cinematic language could have been more explicit, this movie contains genuine dramatic tension and doesn't feel weighed down by pointless scenes that we see so often in indie fare. I'm rating S'ids Lake highly, as something at its core works and I had an enjoyable time with it. Director Kevin Ruiz has demonstrable talent and I look forward to seeing his next feature.
