Director Leigh Janiak's minimalist suspense-horror film creates a memorable sense of unease despite a clichéd payoff. Newlyweds Bea (Rose Leslie) and Paul (Harry Treadaway) travel to the bride's family's lakeside getaway cabin in rural New York for an isolated honeymoon idyll, an environment in which the outdoorsy Bea is far more at home than tenderfoot Paul. After an unexpected encounter with Bea's surly ex-flame (and his fearful wife), Paul notices that Bea's behavior is becoming strange and erratic. Paul catches Bea allegedly "sleepwalking" in the woods at night, finds curious sores on her inner thighs, and discovers her nightgown in the brush, covered with a sticky substance. Someone also seems to be shining a light in their windows at night. When Paul finds that unstable Bea has hidden his car key, the question is raised of how well he really knows his new wife after all. What starts like a psycho-thriller with overtones of sexual betrayal takes a turn toward the paranormal, which is something of a letdown, even if Janiak resists indulging in CGI monsters and real gore, instead opting for mere suggestion. A strong optional purchase. (C. Cassady)
Honeymoon
Magnolia, 87 min., R, DVD: $26.98, Blu-ray: $29.98, Jan. 13 Volume 30, Issue 2
Honeymoon
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