From Romance to Ruin: Unraveling the Horror of Keeper (2025)

 

Release Information

Keeper is a 2025 American folk-horror film directed by Osgood Perkins and written by Nick Lepard. It is produced by Chris Ferguson and Jesse Savath (through Wayward Entertainment, Big Rodeo Films, and Oddfellows Pictures), and distributed by NEON. The film has a runtime of 99 minutes. The main cast features Tatiana Maslany as Liz and Rossif Sutherland as Malcolm, with supporting roles by Birett Turton and Eden Weiss. Keeper premiered in the United States on 14 November 2025.  In Indonesia, it began screening on 21 November 2025.

Synopsis (Spoiler Light)

The movie follows Liz (Tatiana Maslany) and her boyfriend Malcolm (Rossif Sutherland), who travel to a remote cabin in the woods to celebrate their anniversary. What begins as a romantic getaway slowly unravels as unsettling occurrences creep in: a suspicious cake, strange sounds in the walls and ceiling, odd behavior from unexpected visitors, and eerie apparitions. As Liz confronts the growing horror around her, hints emerge that the secluded cabin holds dark secrets tied to its past. Keeper blends psychological unease, folk horror, and supernatural dread to deliver a growing sense of paranoia and fear. 

Personal Analysis and Impressions

Critics seem divided about Keeper — but there are some clear patterns in what resonates. On the positive side, many praise the film’s atmosphere and the performance of Tatiana Maslany. According to one review, Maslany's "multifaceted talents" carry the film when its narrative begins to falter; she convincingly portrays Liz's descent from wary hope to unraveling sanity. Another reviewer calls Keeper a “supremely slow-burning, hallucinatory descent into madness”, noting that its horror is effective not through gore, but through skin-crawling dread and uncanny imagery. The film’s aesthetic — its cinematography, framing, and use of subtle sound design — often draws comparisons to modern folk-horror and even cosmic horror, evoking an unsettling feeling that lingers beyond the screen. 

However, on the flip side, several critics mention that Keeper struggles with cohesion. Its narrative sometimes feels underdeveloped, especially in the first half. For some viewers, the slow burn becomes tedious, and the payoff — though shocking — may feel unsatisfying or incoherent. 

Overall, I find Keeper compelling when experienced as a mood piece: it doesn’t aim to explain everything, but instead immerses you in dread, uncertainty, and the fragility of trust in relationships. As long as you’re prepared for ambiguity and a horror that creeps rather than jumps, the film offers a uniquely unsettling ride.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

• Strong lead performance by Tatiana Maslany — her portrayal of Liz’s emotional unraveling is nuanced and powerful. 

• Eerie, atmospheric horror built more on mood, cinematography, and psychological tension than on cheap scares or gore. 

• Effective use of ambiguity and slow-burn structure to unsettle the viewer, creating lingering unease. 

• Visual and auditory design — framing, sound cues, and surreal imagery — that elevate the horror into something more artful than conventional slasher fare. 

Weaknesses

• Narrative sometimes feels undercooked or disjointed; certain plot developments may feel unearned or confusing. 

• Slow pacing in the first half can test viewers’ patience, especially if they expect a more traditional horror escalation. 

• The film’s ambiguous approach — while stylistically bold — may leave some viewers unsatisfied or wanting clearer explanations of the horror’s mechanics or meaning.

• Compared to other 2025 horror films, Keeper may lack narrative ambition or thematic clarity for those seeking deeper commentary rather than purely atmospheric horror. 

Who Should Watch “Keeper”

Keeper is a good fit for:

• Fans of slow-burn horror and atmospheric thrillers rather than fast-paced slashers.

• Viewers who enjoy psychological horror, ambiguity, and horror that leans on mood instead of shock value.

• Admirers of strong acting and character-driven drama blended with horror elements.

• People who appreciate horror as an art form — where unease, symbolism, and subtle dread matter more than explicit gore.

If you prefer horror with clear plot, concrete explanations, and continuous tension, Keeper might feel frustrating.

Conclusion

Keeper (2025) is a divisive but intriguing horror film. It thrives on atmosphere, subtle dread, and a haunting lead performance by Tatiana Maslany. While its narrative may stumble at times and its pacing may not satisfy viewers expecting traditional horror arcs, the film succeeds as a psychological — almost folk-horror — experience that lingers after the credits. Based on aggregated reviews (Metacritic, Rotten Tomatoes, and various critics), Keeper lands around the middle: effective in style and performance, uneven in story cohesion. Final score: 6.5 / 10.