Lost Child (2018)

Lost Child (2018) (see below for preview images)

Directed by Ramaa Mosley
Written by Tim Macy, Ramaa Mosley
 
Starring: Leven Rambin, Taylor John Smith, Jim Parrack, Landon Edwards, Kip Duane Collins, Toni Chritton Johnson, Debbie Sutcliffe
 
IMDb 5.3/10                Rotten Tomatoes 44%            Metacritic NO DATA

Plot Summary:  
 
LOST CHILD follows an army veteran, Fern, who returns home in order to look for her brother, only to discover an abandoned boy lurking in the woods behind her childhood home. After taking in the boy, she searches for clues to his identity, and discovers the local folklore about a malevolent, life-draining spirit that comes in the form of a child; the Tatterdemalion.
 
 
Opinion Dominion
 
I actually really enjoyed this film.  It wasn’t super scary or extremely fast paced but, it DID keep my attention.  It reminded me of how a Criminal Minds episode unfolds. Something is always happening.  It may not be a huge event or seem important but, it all comes together at the end.  That is how this film was.
 
It was an emotional journey from beginning to end filled with pain, anticipation, suspense, wonder, curiosity and mystery.  I found myself feeling empathy for Fern and her brother.  I also found myself leaning into the film and waiting anxiously to find out what happened.
 
I feel like Fern’s brother was the most authentic character but, the Fern character was relatable as well. While watching I felt Fern, played by Leven Rambin, was a believable character but her brother Billy (Taylor John Smith) was truly the gripping character for me.  He seemed to be the one that suffered the most, being left behind and feeling abandoned and even in the making of the film his character, although the center of Fern’s being back home, was still seemingly kind of in the background and not a priority.
 
But, let’s talk about the child.  Cecil. Cecil is played by Landon Edwards. I recognized this kid actor from SOMEWHERE and just couldn’t place it.  So, I looked him up.  That did me no REAL good.  I saw that he was in two other movies released around the same time.  But, still, it’s driving me batty that I can’t place where else I’ve seen him.  I’m almost certain it was a TV crime drama show but, anyways, I’m going off on a tangent.
 
Where were we?  Oh yeah.  Cecil.  This is a kid that lives in the woods.  He is found by Fern and she takes him in.  It’s obvious this kid has had SOME raising.  And Fern certainly isn’t the mothering type.  (And NO, I don’t say that because she was military, all of whom I love and appreciate by the way, but because she is so twisted up emotionally about herself and her own life experiences she just doesn’t seem to have that “caring” drive that a lot of mothers have.  It doesn’t bother Cecil though.  He’s just happy to be there.  He’s very polite.  He’s very quiet and doesn’t say much of anything to anyone.  But he’s just as messed up inside as Billy and Fern.
 
Now, Fern feels guilty for leaving her brother behind and going into the military to get away from her home.  She gets out of the Army and goes back home to look for her brother and right her wrongs. She’s hoping to reconnect and repair her family.  Having Cecil around disrupts ALL of her plans.  I will give her credit.  She finds a kid in the woods and doesn’t have the heart to just leave him there to fend for himself…so, atta girl, you did what every decent human being would do.  
 
As soon as Fern gets Cecil in her home she starts and continues to feel sick.  She is warned by others in the area to put the kid back in the woods and forget him.  Whoa!  Hello!  That seems a little harsh to me.  Seemed harsh to Fern too, as she ignored the warnings.
 
The rest of the film is her experience with Cecil, her struggle in trying to figure out who he is and where he came from and her dealings with her brother Billy.
 
This is NOT a bloody, gory horror film.  It’s more of a psychological thriller with a touch of paranormal folklore.
 
If you are looking for something horror related but a little more relaxed and a little different, this is a great pick.  I think this would even be good for people who don’t usually go for horror movies too. I hope you guys take the time to check this out.  I think the majority of horror fans would enjoy watching this film.
 
RATINGS
3.5/5 Stars