[Review] Lair (2021): Love, Loss, and Demonic Possession
Recently, I received my very first screener as Adam Ethan Crow’s upcoming horror release, Lair! Since I usually prefer to dive into films blind, I was both stunned and enraptured by how original it was. Even beyond its creative premise, the film delivers a wonderfully vibrant cast, including video game icon Aislinn De’Ath (who you can find in Dark Nights with Poe and Munro and The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker on various platforms) and prolific gem Corey Johnson, who also appeared in such treasures as The Mummy (1999), The Fourth Kind (2009), and Ex Machina (2014).
In an ironically similar vein to the now-debunked classic, The Amityville Horror (1979), Lair also explores the aftermath of familial bloodshed born from demonic possession. The story follows duplicitous ghost hunter Dr. Steven Caramore (Johnson) as he attempts to make sense of his friend and colleague Ben Dollarhyde’s (Oded Fehr, who’s also in The Mummy oddly enough) disturbingly curious murder conviction. In an uncharacteristic fit of rage, Caramore’s long-time pal violently slaughtered his wife and son, later claiming to have been influenced by one of Caramore’s innocuous ghost show relics. Though if skeptical Caramore knows for a fact ghosts don’t exist, how could this possibly be?
Ben Dollarhyde behind bars
Given the two’s successful business as “snake-oil sales agents,” Dollarhyde’s aberrant admission catches Caramore completely off-guard. With dollar signs flashing in his eyes, however, Caramore devises an elaborate scheme to disprove his friend’s conviction while potentially earning some cold hard cash for himself along the way. Even crooked in his good intentions, Caramore eventually pays the price for his toxically masculine hubris...and let me tell you, it sure ain’t pretty. Like the dishonorable Reverend Cotton in The Last Exorcism (2010) and the fame-hungry ghost hunter Lance Preston in Grave Encounters (2011)—who I’m guessing was a direct inspiration for Caramore’s very comparable presence—before him, Lair depicts a cautionary tale about the dangerous consequences of patriarchal smugness.
Caramore poring over his computer in a frenzy
While the film largely directs its focus on Caramore’s character, there are several others that additionally steal the spotlight. In his ploy to secretly stage and record a “real” haunting, the unsavory conman bugs his late father’s London apartment, filling it with creepy toys and Christian paraphernalia before renting it out to an innocent family. Maria (De’Ath), her daughters Joey (Anya Newall) and Lilly (Lara Mount) and her girlfriend Carly (Alana Wallace) are the heart of the film, and their moments of softness, though few, provide a much-needed haven from the widening darkness. Of course, as a queer horror fan, I deeply appreciated the crucial representation. I especially loved a scene early on that featured a pride parade. That being said, I wanted more. Some additional development of Maria and Carly’s characters would be incredible, and I honestly crave a film all about them. As much as I enjoyed watching every character on-screen, a redirection of focus from Caramore to the couple would be even more enthralling to me!
Maria, Carly, and Joey smiling as they unknowingly enter the cursed apartment
All in all, I found Lair to be a thrilling new take on the skeptic-turned-believer plotline. With its echoes of The Last Exorcism and Grave Encounters—two of my favorites, mind you—it proves itself as a formidable rival through sheer creativity and dynamism alone. Additionally, it maintains that same refreshingly aware sense of humor that will always be glorious to see.
Lair will be available on VOD November 9th.