True story: in June 1960, four kids (two 15-year-old girls and their 18-year-old boyfriends) went camping. Three of them were found dead, stabbed and bludgeoned to death; the fourth was bloodied and blank, with no recollection of the violent attack. This case has remain unsolved in Finland for nearly 6 decades, but theories have turned into legends, and this film is born of those campfire ashes.
In Lake Bodom, Atte (Santeri Helinheimo Mantyla) is obsessed with 
the murders. He talks his friend Elias (Mikael Gabriel) into helping him recreate them, hoping to solve them once and for all, but Elias is in it for the sex, not so much the solving. They coax along two best friends who think they’re going on a very different trip – Ida (Nelly Hirst-Gee) is happy to escape her oppressively-religious home life, and Nora (Mimosa Willamo) is just happy to spend time with Ida.
Since this is a horror movie, you know what’s coming next: this isn’t just a recreation. Shit goes down! But Lake Bodom isn’t quite as predictable or straight-up as that. There’s a series of twists that defy expectation, melding several horror tropes into a single film, keeping you guessing and interested and creeped the fuck out. This film looks better than any horror film has to. Some of the shots are full-stop beautiful, which only adds to the ambiance. Atmospheric and well-paced, Lake Bodom provides thrills and anxiety in equal measure, earning every drop of blood splashed across the screen.
Lake Bodom has a relatively low body count, but if you’re in it for the gore, no worries: it makes each one count. In detail. Graphic, brutal detail. Fans of horror who are tired of the same old thing are going to love this. Well, love and hate this. It really is quite scary and maybe not as “fun” as a traditional slasher flick – there’s real meat here, if you can stomach it.
Lake Bodom will be released exclusively on Shudder May 2017.
ASSHOLES WATCHING MOVIES 
Very cool. The last epic thriller/horror movie I’ve seen come out of Northern Europe was Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I know, I know, I need to broaden my horizons. But this one sounds like a keeper. Cheers!
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ooh nope! 🙂
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Did you get to see the handmaids walking around?
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Sold! I’m looking forward to this. 🙂
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Nope. Don’t do horror. But I’ll recommend this to those who like the genre.
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Serve it up! Looking forward to this particular film. I like the premise.
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I’ve heard of the true story (thanks to the band Children of Bodom, haha), but I didn’t know there’s a new film based on it. Lake Bodom is on my radar for sure!
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Sounds great. Looking forward to this one!
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Um… Gonna have to pass on this one.
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Nope. All the nope. But at least I know what to avoid!
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Loving all your SXSW posts!!!
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This sounds interesting but what the fuck is Shudder? *goes to Google*
Great review!
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Shudder is a streaming service that hosts primarily horror movies!
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Eek! I can’t handle horror :S
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The actual murders themselves are pretty interesting and although I’d likely prefer a documentary, this sounds like a decent wee horror flick. Duly added to the list!
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