Caveat (noun) — A warning of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations.
Irish cinema has a long and storied history, but only recently have Irish horror filmmakers begun to enter the mainstream in a big way. Films like Grabbers (2012), The Hallow (2015), and The Hole in the Ground (2019) all showcase distinctly Irish interpretations of various fables and horror subgenres. However, few can compare with the pure terror and claustrophobia of Damian McCarthy’s aptly named film, Caveat (2020).
Caveat Plot Summary
Our story begins when Isaac (Jonathan French), is propositioned by an acquaintance, Barret (Ben Caplan), to look after Barret’s niece, Olga (Leila Sykes), for a few days. The job pays well, but Isaac is slightly apprehensive of the arrangement, particularly since Olga is prone to go into catatonic states without warning, necessitating a keeper until her uncle can return from a business trip. Nonetheless, Isaac agrees to take on the job, but when Barret drives him out to the remote cabin where Olga lives, the work starts to lose its appeal.
First, the cabin is located on a tiny island in the middle of a small lake. The island is only accessible by rowboat. As Isaac cannot swim, the task makes him feel uneasy. Barret brushes it off, but once the two enter the cabin, we are introduced to the true caveat of the job.
Due to her fragile mental state, Olga will only agree to let someone else stay in the house if the person wears a locked vest that keeps them chained up and incapable of reaching her private bedroom. Upon learning about this new caveat, Isaac nearly leaves, as Barret failed to mention any of these details in his initial proposal. However, Isaac eventually agrees to be chained up and keep an eye on Olga until Barret returns. Though he has no way to remove the vest, the long chain allows him to move throughout most of the dingy, claustrophobic house. Since Olga spends most of her time locked away or scurrying about in the shadows, Isaac struggles to communicate with her, but he quickly learns that there are dark secrets hidden within the house — leaving him unable to escape or properly defend himself.
Caveat Uses Increasingly Bizarre Twists to Great Effect
Something that usually hinders the success of lesser horror films is the inability to implement narrative progression in a believable way. In Caveat, the story is literally built upon the discovery of increasingly bizarre caveats and peculiar circumstances. However, these are actually used to great effect in the film, creating a strange yet somehow believable world in which our protagonist, Isaac, realizes that he is in way over his head.
The primary plot point that pushes the story forward is the introduction of the vest and chain. These items hobble Isaac, making him incapable of escaping the house of horrors and forcing him to come up with inventive solutions to the issues that naturally arise from his surroundings. He must deal with a psychologically unpredictable “roommate” as he works to uncover the secrets of her past. As the story progresses, we come to find out that Isaac has secrets of his own, including a dark and troubling connection with this bizarre family.
In any case, as a viewer, you never feel taken out of the story by the introduction of new or even unbelievable caveats. It is true that the film evolves from survivalist horror into more magical realist territory, but the transition feels both natural and necessary. In short, Damian McCarthy manages to expertly navigate an intricate plot with minimal dialogue, a small cast, and an even smaller budget.
Mental Illness Plays a Pivotal Role, But It Never Feels Exploitative
Despite her frequent departures, Olga helps make the story both frightening and approachable. Her mental illness is never clearly defined, but this actually works in the film’s favor. Too many horror films try to overexplain the mental state of “unstable” characters or make their illness a direct source of horror. Instead, Caveat takes a more realistic approach that shows the duality and complexity of someone who suffers from trauma, isolation, and abuse.
For this reason, Olga functions as both a heroine and a villain. We are never quite sure what to expect from her, but we are also not made to place judgment on her mental illness. In fact, her illness proves to be an asset in many respects, as she is able to make discoveries that Isaac could not make on his own. Thus, as Isaac attempts to find out what is hidden inside the house, Olga works to both help and hinder his progress. In this respect, the opposite of Caveat might be a film like Split (2016), in which mental illness is trivialized, oversimplified, and made to be the primary source of horror.
However, at the risk of giving away too much, Olga is not the only character to struggle with mental illness and the demons from her past. Isaac must also wrestle with his own issues, as well as the difficulties that arise as a direct result of his association with Barret. Thus, Caveat works as both a horrifying film and a study on the intricacies of emotional and physical trauma, making it a juicy piece of cinema for movie buffs, film theorists, and average moviegoers alike.
The Bottom Line
Caveat (2020) never fails to shock and terrify, even if it does move at a relatively slow pace. The setting inspires dread and claustrophobia at every turn, while the narrative finds ways to be creative without overplaying its hand. I would go as far as to say that Caveat might be the greatest Irish horror film ever made (to date). So, if you’re in the mood for a genuinely scary film that makes the most out of a modest budget, you can’t go wrong with this masterpiece from the mind of Damian McCarthy.
Caveat (2020) Movie Rating: ★★★★½ out of 5
If you’d like to watch Caveat (2020), it is currently available to stream via Shudder or Amazon Prime. For more film reviews like this one, be sure to check out the Philosophy in Film homepage!