The Lodgers (2017 film)

The Lodgers is a 2017 Irish gothic horror film directed by Brian O'Malley and written by David Turpin. The film stars Charlotte Vega, Bill Milner, Eugene Simon, David Bradley, and Deirdre O'Kane.

Set in rural Ireland in 1920, The Lodgers tells the story of orphaned twins, Rachel (Vega) and Edward (Milner), who live in a crumbling ancestral estate. They are bound by a dark family secret and a set of strict rules imposed upon them by supernatural beings referred to as "The Lodgers" who dwell in the estate's lake and punish those who break the rules.

The rules governing their existence include being in bed by midnight, never letting a stranger into the house, and never leaving one another. Rachel, yearning for freedom and a life beyond the confines of the estate, begins to question the rules and the true nature of the entities that control them. This leads her to interact with Sean (Simon), a war veteran, and threatens to unravel the fragile and dangerous equilibrium she and Edward have maintained.

The film explores themes of isolation, forbidden love, the burden of the past, and the struggle for independence. The visual style is characterized by its atmospheric settings, haunting imagery, and a sense of pervasive dread. The Lodgers premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2017.