The Lookout (2021) 💀💀💀💀½

 

Katherine Oostman seems to have an innate understanding of horror, and of how to take a simple premise and elevate it into something unexpected. The Lookout is superbly crafted, with breathtaking location footage that wholly immerses the viewer into the film and its feeling of overwhelming reality.

The stark and lonely location of a fire lookout tower have gained popularity lately, appearing in a number of creepypastas and cryptid tales but none capture the isolation nearly as well. We open with a peaceful sunset silhouetting the location, the only peaceful moment that is to come. 

Our unnamed protagonist is awakened by strange sounds, followed by cries for help on the radio, while we the audience see exactly how alone she truly is. There is no one coming to help, indeed she is the person to go to someone else's aid.

All of the details are flawless. The sound and lighting design serve the story well, creating an atmosphere that lends itself to the tension, while the darkened fishbowl of the windowed fire tower simultaneously gives feelings of agoraphobia and claustrophobia. Especial mention should also be made of the special effects by Emma Marshall, which give the first glimpses of the horror to come, while perhaps leading to a subversion of view expectations in the film's climax.

Lizzie McDowell's performance provides just the right blend of self-assuredness as a person on fire lookout and the tentativeness of a person who knows that they are going into a situation beyond their understanding. Watching, her growing sense of dread is palpable, and she visibly pushes on out of a sense of duty, as opposed to an unrealistic sense of bravado. It all leads to a final reveal, worthy of Creepshow or The Outer Limits, and that reverberates well into the credits.

There are really no "problems" to be found here other than a few actions taken that might have viewers screaming at their screens. Such things are genre conventions as opposed to flaws, and they happen in far larger productions. Characters who behave perfectly and with no recklessness are often not entertaining to watch. Here, the film provides just enough situational unawareness to make things great fun.

2021 ✶ 6m ✶ Color ✶ US ✶ Director: Katherine Oostman ✶ Screenplay: Katherine Oostman ✶ Music: Alex Winkler ✶ Starring: Lizzie McDowell (Fire Lookout) ✶ YouTube.