Lake Nowhere(DVD/Blu-ray) — Lake Nowhere(DVD/Blu-ray)

In recent years there has been a glut of horror films trying to recapture both the vibe, plot, character make-up, and setting of slasher films from the early 1980’s.  And these have worked to varying results, Lake Nowhere is one of the more successful of these ‘tributes’ to the golden age of the slasher. As it almost perfectly replicates the feel, look, & atmosphere of said slasher's, yet adds in it’s own creative & darkly arty twists to the formula- making it rise above it’s influences.

Here we have a duel format release of the film, featuring both DVD & blu-ray. And even this is given quite a original concept- on the DVD you get the film playing as if it was a old VHS tape- so there’s no menu, etc. When you slip the disc in it starts playing straight off, and we get a selection of recreated old school horror trailers- we get one for a giallo movie, one for a eco horror film, and an  fake beer advert( as a nice detail, they drink the said invented brand with in the main feature).  The blu- ray is more formal in its lay-out taking in the expected- we get two commentaries: a more thoughtful/ informative one from the  films writer & director. And a playful/ joke bound one from the cast seven actors.  A featurette about the making of Lake Nowhere, and behind the Scenes featurette for trailers and commercials, etc.

The film it’s self is fairly short & sharp in it’s running length, coming in around the hour mark. But it still mangers to feel like a full film, save for little character development, though the same could be said for many slasher/ horror films!. The outline of the plot is fairly standard featuring a group of young people going to a cabin near a lake for alcohol, sex, and drugs- then getting picked off one by one. What makes the film work is the details- firstly the whole thing is presented with a very stark VHS look, featuring tape jumps, tracking errors, etc. Next the killer is a sort of green-man meets silent wildman of the woods( which is a fairly original concept). Further to this you get elements of the supernatural/ zombie cinema added in, and lastly/ most important you get some effective kills too.  Also the film is set in the autumn, so you get the nice atmospheric back drop of dead leaves, barren trees, and a bleak looking lake.

In an age when late 70’s/ early 80’s influenced music & cinema is becoming common place, it’s great to see a film like Lake Nowhere going that extra mile to perfect the look & feel of genre films of this period. So if you are a fan of the golden age of the slasher film this really is a no-brainer, and the excellent/ inventive lay-out of the duel format really adds another level to the whole  thing