Plot: What’s it about?
Kat Walker (Angel Boris) is tired of her job as a waitress, as she is a free spirit and longs for adventure of some kind. In order to break up her dull lifestyle, she takes a position at the rustic Tamarack Lodge, where even the most daring skiers can satisfy their slope needs. At first, Kat feels like an outsider, as she has little in common with the others at the lodge. As she gets to know those around her, she discovers threads of commonality and even more in some cases. The slopes are home to some intense action, but the msot intense action of all occurs inside the lodge. An avalanche soon buries Kat and the others inside the lodge, which is when a strange power comes over her. She begins to have dark, seductive visions and she soon feels as if her life is about to change forever. But are these visions real and part of a personal evolution, or is Kat just suffering from a giant dose of cabin fever?
I’d never heard of Lost Lake before this disc arrived and based on the very limited information I could find, I would assume I am not alone in that respect. Now that I’ve seen the film, I can say with reasonable confidence that there is a reason the movie has such a low profile, it isn’t that good. Lost Lake is unusual and has more than a couple memorable moments, but the elements don’t come together. The movie tries to be a romance of sorts with a supernatural edge, but the filmmakers never fully commit to that arc, which leaves us with a splintered plot that never gels. The cast is better than expected, with some solid performances across the board, but even good peformances can’t save this one. I do think the movie is worth a rental for those curious, but I doubt many people will feel the need to own this one. I liked some of the potential within Lost Lake, but in the end, the film never lives up to that potential.
Video: How does it look?
Lost Lake is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. A lot of low budget films these days look superb thanks to advances in technology and this film is no exception. While not as refined as a major studio picture, the movie looks terrific and the visuals come through well. The image has no real source flaws, aside from some minor shimmering, but that is expected given the medium. The colors have a warm presence, but not to rich, while contrast is a tad light, though not to an extreme degree. So a few flaws do surface, but all in all, this is a solid visual treatment.
Audio: How does it sound?
A basic, but sufficient stereo soundtrack has been provided. This movie has no real need for dynamic sound, as the focus is on dialogue. Even the avalanche scene comes off as reserved, though perhaps a full surround option could have enhanced that. But it wouldn’t have improved the experience, so I think this stereo option is just fine. The dialogue has a clean, clear sound and that is crucial for this movie, while background noise comes through well also. I can’t call this soundtrack memorable or impressive, but the movie sounds good, which is what counts.
Supplements: What are the extras?
An audio commentary should shed some light on this unusual movie, but director Anthony Leigh Adams and producer Christina Adams don’t do much of that. The session is technical for the most part, but some stories from the set are recalled. In the end, a decent session, but one that could have been much more and helped clear up some of the film’s issues. This disc also includes a behind the scenes featurette, an alternate end sequence, and the film’s trailer.
