I saw Loon Lake...

I recently had the immense pleasure of discovering a wonderful, atmospheric chiller entitled, "Loon Lake". 

Directed by Ansel Faraj, who co-wrote with Nathan Wilson, "Loon Lake" brings to mind ghostly, puritanical cinema of the past, combining elements of "Let's Scare Jessica to Death"; "Witchfinder General"; "Mark of the Devil"; "Blood on Satan's Claw"; and "Night of Dark Shadows", but with a pronounced, character-study slant.

The story concerns Louis Olson, portrayed by the aforementioned Wilson, who heads to Minnesota for some peace and quiet, though more so to cope with his wife (Sierra Schermerhorn)'s death.

In wandering the vicinity of Loon Lake, Louis discovers a disturbing history (based, I might add, on a genuine legend), where a young woman named Mary Jane Terlinden, played by Kelly Kitko (who's also one of the film's producers) was beheaded in 1880, due to her child-of-nature (witchy) ways. In truth, her murder was prompted by the lust-ridden Pastor Owen Janson, portrayed by "Dark Shadows'" David Selby.

Selby also plays Janson's descendant, Emery, a kind man who does his best to thwart Louis' suspicion that he has stirred Mary Jane's specter by crossing her grave three times.

Through his ordeal, Louis has visions of his blood-soaked wife, while befriending a young woman named Gracie (Brittany Benjamin). Though affection mounts between the two, Louis' fears interfere, leading to a surreal and unsettling climax. 

On the surface, "Loon Lake" may strike one as a traditional ghost story, but it's so much more, intertwining concepts of acceptance and prejudice, faith and doubt, cowardice and courage. 

These concepts work due the film's cogent direction and script, Christopher Lange's lush photography, Bill Wandel's moving score, and the across-the-board, quality performances, with Wilson granting an identifiable guise, which separates this entry from those run-of-the-mill, over-the-top horror films. Kitko's performance is also remarkable: a powerful mix of pathos and mystical sensuality. (It's hard to pull one's eyes off her; she's truly that magnetic.)

Selby is also in top form, giving two of the best performances of his career, and that's saying a lot, considering his impeccable queue. Kathryn Leigh Scott, also of "Dark Shadows" fame, cameos as the Pastor's wife, giving one of the flashback segments a sentimental yet intense ambiance.

It's rare that I have an immediate hankering to revisit a film after viewing it, but "Loon Lake" is so well executed, so meticulously constructed in its subtle approach, that I'll be plunging in again this evening. 

"Loon Lake" is available through Amazon Prime. I urge my readers to check it out. I promise, you will not be disappointed.