“Spring Lakes” follows Marcus, as he travels to Spring Lakes in search for his missing sister, however, what he encounters in the woods is much more sinister.
This is a very well-made movie. The cinematography is strong throughout, with several visuals that stand out. On top of this, the performances across the board are solid. There’s a clear level of care put into how the film looks and feels, which goes a long way in elevating the overall experience.
The practical effects also deserve some credit. For the most part, they’re well done and add a nice layer of realism to the horror elements. It helps the film be grounded, even when things start to get more intense and unsettling.
The obvious standout here is David Lamont (Father Gerald). Even though he isn’t featured for the majority of the runtime, his presence is immediately felt once he’s introduced. The film noticeably picks up in intensity at that point, and a lot of that comes down to his performance. He manages to bring a unique balance to the role, offering moments of comedic relief while still being unsettling. That combination works well, especially in a horror setting where tone can sometimes feel all over the place. Here, it adds to the unpredictability instead of taking away from it.
As a horror movie, “Spring Lakes” delivers more often than not. There are several disturbing moments scattered throughout, and at times, the film really goes for it. There’s one scene in particular that stands out for how graphic it is, being the kind of moment that could turn some viewers away entirely. It doesn’t feel like the film is holding back, which is always a plus in this genre.
Where it does stumble is in its pacing. “Spring Lakes” could probably afford to be about 10–15 minutes shorter. The opening act leans heavily on exposition, and there are moments where characters repeat the same information more than necessary. A few side conversations also don’t add much and could’ve been trimmed down or removed altogether. It’s not enough to derail the film, but it is noticeable.
“Spring Lakes” is an effective horror film with a handful of memorable sequences — one of which is definitely going to stick with audiences for a while.
Rating: 4 out of 5
