What begins as a pretty run of the mill home invasion movie soon twists and turns into something altogether more interesting and disturbing.

In retrospect, from the opening VO, Little Bone Lodge is attempting to subvert expectations with a series of clever misdirections. It's a nice shift of pace to what you might expect from such fare.

Whilst the twists and turns in the story don't always surprise, throughout the film tension is built and sustained in thanks to the tightly written script and excellent cast. No one is quite what they seem, and the level of distrust grows until it boils over and explodes.

It's never entirely clear who is going to make it to the end credits, and at times you might find yourself changing your mind on who you want to make it too.

Come the final act, the action ramps up, trading the tension of the earlier sequences to brutal confrontations, but it still works, making for a satisfying last act that felt well placed.

Overall, it's a great example of a 'small' film done well. Clever Hitchcockian cinematography to maximise the single location and a gut punch ending to boot.

Well worth a look I'd say.

Wasn't sure what to expect having never heard of it but was pleasantly surprised by this cleverly written and well paced horror thriller with a competent cast. Even though I think it's fairly clear that the matriarch has something to hide fairly early on, there are still plenty of twists and turns and action to keep you engaged, and with a satisfying climax to the whole affair. Many of the main characters have nuance and light and shade which makes them more believable, and there is plenty of trope subversion which I personally enjoy.

Because I'm obliged to write more, I was also pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the cast and the portrayal of some mental health issues in what seemed like a refreshingly 'real' way.

Recommended.

Great acting and plot twists in this well-made home invasion thriller with tinges of horror. Neil Linpow not only wrote the strong script, but he also gives an impressive star turn, matching Joely Richardson's alternately nurturing and disturbing performance as a mother protecting her family.

I'm sure we'll be seeing more of the impressive supporting actors as well. Just be aware that there are some gruesome images in the film, and the British dialogue was hard to hear and understand for this American. Given the small budget and single location, the director was able get high production values out of the setting and action. I also prefer the evocative UK title Little Bone Lodge over the more generic US title The Last Exit.