Although technically a thriller, Old Man boasts horror elements. Newly released to streaming in many areas, we have thoughts on this look into the human psyche. Should you give it a watch or a pass? Read on to find out.
A young man is hiking in the nearby woods when he stumbles upon a small cabin and the eccentric old man who lives inside. After an intense introduction, the two engage in a lengthy conversation. The more they talk, the more they realize how much they have in common and begin to bond. Both of them are running from painful truths and past sins. Neither of them anticipates the nightmare that awaits.
This movie stars Stephen Lang, Marc Senter, Patch Darragh and Liana Wright-Mark. Lucky McKee directed the film, and Joel Veach wrote the script.
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The only way to describe this movie is a grueling view of the effect of lingering guilt on the human mind. Unfortunately, despite the incredible acting and deep story, Old Man is entirely predictable. I figured out the two key aspects within the movie’s first quarter. As the narrative played out, I kept thinking I had to be wrong, that something would switch gears. However, everything played almost precisely the way I thought it would.
Predictability aside, I enjoyed the film. Stephen Lang does a splendid job as the titular Old Man. The setting has a decidedly creepy atmosphere. Overall, the movie is worth the hour and 37 minutes. It does lag in the middle. I found myself bored at one point.
I would go so far as to call this one a mildly slow burn. The beginning is in your face and eventful, but the middle stalls out. It gets its mojo back by the end. The story is pretty cut-and-dried, but one thing took a little more to figure out — Rascal. Throughout the movie, Stephen Lang’s character keeps looking for and talking about Rascal, who he says is his dog. Without going into spoiler territory, there is much more to Rascal than a simple pet. It took a little thinking and consideration, but I finally understood how that part of the story concludes.
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I often dislike movies that are confined to a single setting. Somehow, it worked well for this story. Since everything is centered around two characters, it is easier to contain that in one location. Often, the problem comes from an abundance of people in that singular area. Another plus to containing everything is the limited need for background information.
While predictable, the story is deep, which makes it worth watching. Although it is tense and contains horror aspects, don’t go into it expecting all the classic markers. There are no jump scares, only one scene with blood and no gore. Throw all expectations out the door and enjoy Old Man with an open mind.
Have you seen this movie yet? If so, what did you think? Let us know in the comments! If you haven’t seen it yet, Old Man is available to buy or rent on all major digital platforms. Before you go, check out the trailer below.
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/cursed-horror-movie-christina-ricci-jesse-eisenberg/
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