The Lizzie Borden Game

The Lizzie Borden Game starts eerily right out of the gate. The first frame of the film proper is a wide shot of a house at night. From the fog slowly engulfing the area to the sound design, which is akin to a siren meeting a howl, the first image grips and entices. The following scene, of two little girls who will go missing while playing “The Lizzie Borden Game,” is also spooky. In fact, until the story blows its load in the final 10 or so minutes, this remains a tight, creepy watch with mostly interesting characters. The lighting throughout is intense and dark, but never to the point where sequences are unwatchable. The editing is precise, as no scene lasts too long, and the kills come at a decent pace once Lizzie Borden is summoned.

Emily is likable and easy to sympathize with. It certainly helps that Durand’s performance straddles the line between depression and confusion, which fits the character’s mental state at the beginning. Shelby may be overbearing, but it is only because of how much she wants to distract her friend from the pain she’s in. Dae plays it straight, despite the goofy lines, which makes Shelby’s convictions even more astutely realized. Kyle is probably the funniest of the bunch, and Brooks makes him likable to a fault. Kelly makes Lilly affable and fun, while the screenplay makes it easy to hope she lives. However, the writing for Rupert feels a bit like someone told McCarthy about the United Kingdom, as the slang terms are overused to sell the foreigner angle. Larkin leans into the broadness and comes across as a caricature while everyone else feels realistic. But Shurts as the killer is terrifically maniacal and evil.

Tension rises as Lizzie looms behind her next victim.

“…starts eerily right out of the gate.”

Unfortunately, as mentioned earlier, The Lizzie Borden Game does not stick the landing. Without spoiling anything, the finale appears to contradict one of the core messages established earlier. It is a strange turn that offers some fun blood and guts to be certain, but it goes against several conversations Emily has about the Borden case. Heck, a flashback leading into this conclusion even goes against it all.

The Lizzie Borden Game is creepy and has a good-sized body count, which is sure to please horror hounds. The solid cast, strong direction, and eerie cinematography give the whole affair a prestige feel lacking in many indie horror films. However, the ending contradicts itself, leaving one with a strange feeling and uncertainty about what to think as the credits roll.

For more information about The Lizzie Borden Game, visit the Breaking Glass Pictures site.