A knock sounds like such an innocuous thing – that is until that knock is in the dead of night and coming from the inside of your bedroom wall. Eight-year-old Peter is plagued by the mysterious and insistent knocking and his parents’ insistence that it is only his overactive imagination does not allay his fears. Bullied at school, Peter’s only solace is in the kindness of his substitute teacher. As Peter attempts to uncover who or what might be lurking within the walls of his house, his parents’ behavior grows increasingly hostile and strange. Soon Peter begins to wonder if he can trust his parents or if they may be hiding a terrible and dangerous secret. This is a brief summary of the brand new Lionsgate film Cobweb.
Released in theaters on July 21, 2023, Cobweb not only marks the debut feature for Filmmaker Samuel Bodin, but also his first film made in the English language. The screenplay by Chris Thomas Devlin (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2022) was featured in the 2018 Black List and appealed to Bodin for its simple yet twisted nature.
Providing the backbone of the film, Cobweb begins with several recognizable Horror film devices. Peter is a quiet child, a loner with no friends and suffering from night terrors that may or may not be a product of his imagination. A disturbing drawing alerts a kindly and concerned teacher to the idea that Peter might be struggling with something, and it is from here that Cobweb starts to differentiate itself from other films. In this case it is with misdirection and twists as to who or what Peter should be most terrified of. Can he really hear knocking? Do his parents have his best interests in mind? Are monsters real?
Adding layers to the story, Woody Norman (Bruno 2019, C’mon C’mon 2021) is fantastic as Peter. At the center of the film, and is utterly believable throughout, he is someone that the audience wants to protect and root for – we are on his side from the start. Complimenting him, Lizzy Caplan (Masters of Sex series, Castle Rock series)and Antony Starr (Banshee series, The Boy series) play Peter’s parents and are both absolutely chilling at times. In fact, their performances send shivers down your spine as you ponder whether these parents are simply zealously overprotective and misunderstood, or if they have more nefarious intentions. Additionally, Cleopatra Coleman (The Last Man on Earth series, Infinity Pool 2023) is great as Miss Devine, Peter’s teacher.
Boasting a brilliant cast, Bodin is extremely effective in creating a suitably creepy atmosphere. Peter’s house is dark and foreboding, sparsely furnished and completely devoid of color and warmth. It feels as though there could be monstrous creatures lurking around every corner and it is not a house in which one would feel comforted and safe. The setting of Halloween enhances every aspect of the film and gives Cobweb a wonderful Fall color palette that shrieks horror and menacing. Bodin also makes great use of light and angles, and Cobweb has a multitude of memorable shots.
Overall, Cobweb feels in a lot of ways like a dark and nightmarish fairytale. It is the sort of film that feels like it should be watched huddled under the safety of a warm blanket on a stormy night. However, just make sure to leave a light on in the hallway. Worth checking out, Cryptic Rock gives Cobweb 4 out of 5 stars.
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