Sam's Lake Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

U.S. 2005
Director: Andrew C. Erin
Cast: Fay Masterson, Sandrine Holt, William Gregory Lee, Stephen Bishop, Megan Fahlenbock, Peter Beks
Rating: R
Release Date: 2005
Running Time: 1 hour 26 mins 58 secs

The Movie Review

Sam's Lake film still 1


SAM'S LAKE
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

Taking a load off our backs by going to a secluded place sure is a great idea if you're into serenity. Taking your friends with you to share the cost, laughter and scary story is just wonderful, not to forget to meet the local serial killer to make you even 'peaceful'. Sounds so familiar? Sam's Lake is that 'familiar'. Although the movie boasts to be produced by the same people behind "The Devil's Rejects" and "House of 1000 Corpses", it'd be wise to take a step back and dissect this film first. Slasher fans who might be intrigued to snatch this DVD to enjoy it at home, well... wait a minute guys, hold that thought!

Sam's Lake is about a couple of friends who spends a vacation in a secluded cabin by the lake. They're doing this to cheer up Sam (Fay Masterson) who has just recently lost his father, besides, Sam also owns a cabin by that lake so it means cheap-vacation. And they aren't simply friends for Sam, they're just like her little family. They are Franklin (Stephen Bishop) and his girlfriend Melanie (Megan Fahlenbock), the Asian beauty Kate (Sandrine Holt), and the gay Dominik (Salvatore Antonio). Everything goes well for these young people, but when it comes to campfire scary storytelling time, Sam is forced to reveal the gruesome secret behind the emptiness and doll-hanging ritual found in every house in the village. She reveals that actually years ago there's an actual murder took place in the village, a mental patient who slaughtered all of his family and never get caught until present time. Moreover a few years back some people were reported missing in the same period over and over, which unfortunately the same period as now. But Sam assures them she hasn't heard of people gone missing for several years now and that it is safe enjoy their vacation. Or are they?

What differ this horror movie from other titles is that all the protagonist characters are sympathetic, they are decent young people who even seem to very care for each other with no jealousy, anger or envy among them. It's a good effort to make the audience feel emotionally-attached to them, but it's an effort half-baked. They are not that kindhearted so as to makes us care for their misfortune and because on the other hand, their characters are too flat. And in this situation, we usually need 1 or 2 annoying characters that we'd be more than happy to see them slashed or simply just to mix the little drama in a horror film.

And talking about the horror elements, Sam's Lake is all about old boo scares with all the "Did you see that?!", "Did you hear that?!", "What was that?!" kinds of stuff. And to spice it up, the writer who's also the director gave it a pinch of supernatural element in a form of haunted house which is most notably scary for one scene only. And it would be a bit compensating if the ending is memorable, but instead it's so abrupt and forced. However, the good parts of Sam's Lake are the acting quality that's good relatively to slasher genre. Plus, the cinematography is also an excellent achievement for a horror flick. But then again, we could watch Discovery Channel or National Geography instead. For a horror movie, Sam's Lake even successfully made my eyelids very heavy. Yawn...

There is nothing wrong with being familiar, but if filmmakers are too familiar with the same concept and same storyline, or in other words same clichés, they could've at least heightened the level of intensity. Some filmmakers did that, but they too often did it by resorting to mostly-cheap shocks elements like gore or nudity. Now, Sam's Lake doesn't have those two elements, but it doesn't have anything new to offer also. That being said, for veteran horror aficionados, it would be better for you to spend your money and time for something else, or at least just wait until some TV station air this slasher film. But for general moviegoers, who would like a bit of taste of horror, Sam's Lake might be a good choice for night viewing. Although it won't be memorable, unless you are staying at a cabin right now, yeah that's an idea, grab this movie and bring it to the cabin to watch it with your buddies, might be a good substitute for scary campfire stories.