Osgood Perkins' Keeper (2025) | Film Review

Osgood Perkins' Keeper (2025) | Film Review

Osgood Perkins’ has proven himself to be a surprising director, a filmmaker who continues to produce thought provoking, intelligent stories that never fail to spark an audience reaction. You cannot predict his next move, his storytelling continues to grow into a reliable, memorable catalog. In saying that, Osgood’s track record to date has been unpredictable yet satisfying, both “Longlegs” and “The Monkey” blur the lines between horror and humour which “Keeper” avoids at all costs. “Keeper” reveals a new string to Perkins’ bow, he incorporates typical horror tropes and stereotypical genre cliches into a spine chilling, suspenseful, slow burning murder mystery. 

Liz escapes for a romantic anniversary weekend at her new boyfriend Malcolm’s secluded cabin. When he suddenly returns to the city for work, Liz finds herself isolated and in the presence of an unspeakable evil that reveals the cabin’s horrifying secrets. 

“Keeper” sounds like a feast for Osgood Perkins’ unique approach to the horror genre, a story that follows your typical cabin-in-the-woods archetype but slowly spirals into a folklore nightmare. 

“Keeper” blends the evil of “Longlegs” and the mystery of “I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House” into a twisting, suspenseful tale of the abuse of love and the cruelty of everlasting life. Osgood keeps the audience waiting, building suspense for little pay off until the final showdown. The final 30 minutes of the film we watch the mystery unfold and the real horror begins. Until this point, the film lacks any real horror and fills quiet moments with tension, stillness and silence. Despite the films success to pull you to the edge of your seat the reveal is undeniably lacklustre. I will say, Tatiana Maslany is the glue holding this films story together. She performs with ease, embracing the female horror tropes and transforming from the victim into the victor. 

Osgood Perkins is a director I admire and will continue to do so, although “Keeper” didn’t quite satisfy by horror urges it did allure me into a captivating and suspenseful thriller. Perkins continues to push himself technically and creativity, experimenting with the barriers of the genre and creating unforgettable visuals. 

“Keeper” is an enigmatic, suspenseful romantic getaway gone wrong until it spirals into a surrealist, supernatural nightmare. The films core story was enticing but the final reveal wasn’t the most satisfying conclusion, although interesting with Osgood’s intelligent humour sprinkled throughout, “Keeper” didn’t surprise or scare me like I thought it would. I was expecting real terror and was merely frightened but I will say the final scene was unquestionably memorable and haunting, let’s just say I have a whole new meaning for the phrase honey trap. 

Probe Points

★★★.5