Imagine being raised as an only child, but suddenly as an adult finding out a sibling exists. This thought to pounder, currently on a limited theatrical run, comes the new Thriller Long Lost. The debut feature from Writer/Director Erik Bloomquist, Long Lost will also be an Amazon-exclusive digital release on Wednesday, April 10th, which ironically is National Siblings Day. So, how does it stack up?
The story follows Seth (Adam Weppler: The Cobblestone Corridor 2016, Groove 2017) ), a young guy who receives a letter informing him that he has an older brother, Richard (Nicholas Tucci: You’re Next 2011, Channel Zero 2018). Richard has invited him to his remote mansion so the two of them can finally connect and become a family. While Richard has an absurd amount of money, Seth is still a struggling twenty-something who is trying to find his way in life. This is while Richard is intense and seems to know everything about Seth, but Seth still knows very little about him.
Richard’s young girlfriend, Abby (Catherine Corcoran: Terrifier 2016, Return to Nuke ‘Em High Aka Vol. 2 2017), also lives in the mansion and Seth is immediately drawn to her. Then, when Richard is no where to be found, Abby does her best to seduce Seth, even though he is not fully comfortable with his new situation. Seth knows there is something not quite right with his half-brother and his relationship with Abby. In truth, everything about the weekend feels off. Maybe he is just overreacting, but what if he is not? Can he figure out what is causing his uneasiness before it is too late?
In truth, siblings can be very different, even those who grow up together often become quite different people. The environment and shared experiences that are able to bond them together and allow for shared similarities to exist. Just sharing some of the same genes does not automatically make people family. That said, Tucci’s Richard and Weppler’s Seth could not be more different. Richard is older and extremely wealthy as some type of successful businessman. He is terrifyingly intense and gets angry when he is bested. Curiously, he is also very into playing childish games, like Chubby Bunny, and always with a monetary stake for Seth if he wins. You will struggle to want to like him, as he is somewhat affectionate to Seth, but there is an underlying coldness that permeates. He is the type of guy that people admire, but would be terrified to encounter for long periods of time as his actions can never be predictable.
On the other hand, Wepper’s Seth is meek and full of self-doubt. He is the personification of a young man still unsure of his path in life, but willing to cautiously take chances to figure out where he belongs. In fact, Richard quickly informs him, “Seth, I’ve been watching you your whole life.” Because of this Seth is at a disadvantage, as he had no idea his brother existed. He is also struggling for cash, so it makes perfect sense that even when he is uncomfortable with the situation, he continues to stay when Richard throws money at him. He is immediately likable, if not frustrating as he goes along with almost everything Richard and Abby expect of him.
As for the backdrop of Long Lost, the mansion and the grounds themselves are picturesque and highly desirable. Everything is bright, clean, shiny, and new. It is a remote paradise, not a place that something dark might be lurking behind every corner. Outside on the grounds are teaming with several faceless workers present but basically ghosts as they move about working.
As beautiful as the mansion is, Richard’s obvious anal tendencies make it appear that no one actually lives there. The only real evidence of any life existing in the house is the haphazard way Richard leaves the empty beers littering various rooms. The contrast of perfection and trash is so odd that it will continue to strike you and instill the idea that nothing on screen is really as it seems.
Meeting new people can already be an awkward situation, and meeting a sibling that suddenly emerges is an even more daunting task. What are the true motives for the meeting? How can so many lost years be made up in a matter of days? Most importantly, who are they really? Long Lost takes you on a uniquely captivating psychological ride where excess and struggle meet in the most shocking way. For these reasons Cryptic Rock gives Long Lost 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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