Walking through a nighttime forest, you’d think two people would have a lot to talk about — especially if they’re carrying a dead body. Lizzie is in that bag, carried by her once-distant sister and her old flame. The duo carry Lizzie to a special spot in the forest to try to bring her back to life, Pet Sematary style. This is the story of Lizzie Lazarus.
Summer Solstice, 1990, two strangers carry a corpse through the woods looking for a mythical zone they believe will bring the dead body back to life. But what secrets will come back with it?
Lizzie Lazarus, IMDB
An opening song with Lizzie (Megan Oesterreich) slowly showing signs of awful wear and tear, floating lifeless in a riverbed, brings us right into the main story. At night, Bethany (Lianne O’Shea) and Eli (Omar Maskati) talk conspiracy theories about aliens, serial killers, and lead paint. They go back and forth shifting blame for Lizzie’s death and sharing personal stories from their past, recalling how Lizzie fit into them. It’s actually quite touching hearing them talk about the good times and bad. Meanwhile, they face real-world risks sneaking through the forest past canoodling couples and dangerous animals.
Lizzie Lazarus doesn’t feel like your typical horror movie. It is heartfelt and sad and happy and nostalgic all at the same time. Of course, there’s the aspect of carrying your loved one’s body around hoping to resurrect it in a magical forest — and all the conspiracy talk too. Lizzie Lazarus is the type of movie that makes you reflect on your past think about your life from an outside perspective. Maybe that’s where the horror really is.
Story and setting-wise, it’s simple and mainly confined to one place: the forest. It goes to prove you don’t need much for something to sink in — a dark place and some meaningful flashbacks will do the trick. The conversations between Eli and Bethany keep us going, knowing we’ll eventually make it to that sacred spot and see if Lizzie really can come back to life. And for as calm as the majority of the movie is, the ending is the exact opposite. Just as is repeated in the movie, those in Heaven eat while those in Hell starve.
Lizzie Lazarus expertly evokes such immense feeling from the viewer; it’s a nice reprieve from the usual grit and grime that horror can offer. This film is two halves of a brain: one artistic and altruistic, the other filled with action and the reality and finality of death. Lizzie Lazarus clings to you leaving a lasting impression, just like the memories of an old friend, an old love, or an old life.
Lizzie Lazarus streams exclusively on Screambox on January 14th. Follow the movie on Instagram.
