‘Caddo Lake’ Review: The Mysteries Haunting Caddo Lake

Exploring the depths of the everchanging marsh, a daughter finds her roots and unravels the mysteries from her past in “Caddo Lake,” leading to a masterful depiction of finding forgiveness, trust, and closure for one’s found family. “Caddo Lake” is an original film directed by Celine Held and Logan George. This movie is eerie but not scary, and the plot feels realistic even though it includes some supernatural elements. Held and George are no strangers to this genre, as they have worked on many films in the past that deal with topics of poverty and loss, such as “Topside” and “Caroline.”

The film’s plot line was confusing at times, especially when the characters moved through a specific area of the lake that changed the time period in which the characters live. This element of time travel was sometimes hard to follow, and it was difficult to understand where and when each character was during some scenes. However, the film was engaging through its plot twists and emotional authenticity, and the element of confusion might be on purpose, as the filmmakers likely wanted the viewers to experience the same emotions that the characters felt.

Eliza Scanlen and Dylan O’Brien give extremely skilled performances in “Caddo Lake.” In this film, a little girl goes missing somewhere in Caddo Lake. Her older sister Ellie, played by Scanlen, is determined to find her and bring her back to safety. O’Brien’s character, Paris, technically never meets Eliza Scanlen’s character; they are simply discovering the supernatural qualities of Caddo Lake at the same time. Paris is dealing with the death of his mother, who died in a car crash in Caddo Lake. He is wrestling with survivor’s guilt and is committed to discovering what really happened that day. Both of their characters are coping with losing someone, and the film handles this topic with clear commitment and thoughtfulness, underscoring the intense emotions one feels when experiencing grief.

Scanlen, who is known for her delicate take on Beth in Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women,” demonstrates her versatility as an actress as she plays a hot-headed, risky and protective sister — quite the opposite to the kind and quiet Beth. O’Brien has done some work in darker and more brooding films, having come a long way from playing a comedic young adult in adventure films and mysteries, such as the “Maze Runner” trilogy and “Teen Wolf.” His performance as Paris in “Caddo Lake” displays his acting prowess, as he embodies a character with deeper emotions and ambitions. Both actors give authentic and dedicated performances in this film.

The filmmakers utilize silence and musical crescendo to build up big plot points or twists. On the other hand, the film lacks strong narrative and character dialogue at points, instead relying heavily on the actors’ emotions to portray the story in a “show, not tell” manner.

The color grading in the film is muted, adding to each sequence’s ominous weight. Most scenes are dark because of the film’s reliance on natural lighting from its outdoor setting. The coolness of this lighting contributes to the film’s rural and outdoorsy qualities. The lack of theatrics in the color grading and lighting also allows the audience to focus primarily on Scanlen and O’Brien’s acting and emotional performances. Unlike films that use color to create a different world, “Caddo Lake” seeks to emphasize the everyday — distilling the viewing experience down to misty skies, flowing rivers, and mysterious woods.

Lowell Meyer’s cinematography is dynamic and focused. The camera closely follows the characters in each scene, cutting quickly to different angles of the same subject. The intentionally shaky camera work makes the viewer feel like another character walking alongside and tracking the protagonist.

A fast visual blur effect and matching sound accompanies the characters whenever they enter the “magical” part of the marsh, making it clear that something out of the ordinary has occurred. However, a few scenes felt inauthentic. One scene features CGI wolves in the woods that are not edited well, causing them to not appear realistic. Another scene features water from Caddo Lake’s dam rushing through trees and refilling barren terrain, but the way the water pools around the trees does not look realistic, either. These last two visual effects feel especially out of place in such a raw and genuine film, detracting from an immersive viewing experience.

Although the movie’s confusing plot choices and special effects occasionally diminish from the viewing experience, “Caddo Lake” is filmed and performed beautifully, finishing with an undeniable emotional impact.