Dylan O’Brien’s latest thriller movie,Caddo Lake, has been well-received by critics and general audiences, and thanks to its 80% critics score onRotten Tomatoes, it has ended a specific and disappointing M. Night Shyamalan eight-year streak. Written and directed by Celine Held and Logan George,Caddo Lakemixes family drama with mystery, suspense, and sci-fi elements, with major plot twists and a twist ending that took many by surprise.Caddo Lakeis currently “fresh” onRotten Tomatoeswith both critics and viewers, becomingone of O’Brien’s hits of 2024.
Caddo Laketakes place in the town near the title location and follows a young man named Paris (O’Brien) and a teenager named Ellie (Eliza Scanlen). When Ellie’s eight-year-old stepsister, Anna, mysteriously disappears, Ellie makes a shocking discovery in an unusually dry part of the lake. Meanwhile, Paris’ struggles to put together his mother’s past and illness lead him to that same part of the lake, where he also makes a life-changing discovery.Caddo Lake’s success is ending a disappointing Shyamalan streak with his twist endings, both as director and producer.
Caddo Lake Is M. Night Shyamalan’s First Twist-Ending Thriller Movie In 8 Years With A Positive Rotten Tomatoes Score
M. Night Shyamalan is one of the modern masters of horror, but he’s also one of the most controversial ones.Shyamalan’s filmmaking style has become known for his use of supernatural elements, plot twists, and twist endings, but not all of them landed as he probably hoped. This style has extended to the movies Shyamalan has produced but not directed, such asThe WatchersandCaddo Lake– but just like with those he directed, one of these twists was a lot better received than the other, contributing to a badRotten Tomatoesstreak.
The Watcherswas directed by Shyamalan’s daughter, Ishana Night Shyamalan.
Shyamalan’s movies with a twist endingreveal have been “rotten” in the last eight years.The last one to get a “fresh” rating wasSplit, in 2016, which has a 78% critics scoreonRotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately, the following movies weren’t as well received, beginning withGlassin 2019, with a 37% critics score (though a “fresh” 66% audience score).The twists and ending ofOldin 2021 weren’t the critics’ favorites, either, with a 50% critics' score. Next wasKnock at the Cabin, but it didn’t have a twist (not in Shyamalan’s style, at least), and it holds a 67% critics score, making it “fresh”.
The Watchers’ twist wasn’t well-received either, with a 31% critics' score.Shyamalan’s latest movie directed by himself,Trap, revealed its twist in the trailers, and though it still has some twists and turns, they weren’t enough to impress critics, who have given it a 57% score. With its 80% critics score,Caddo Lakehas put an end to Shyamalan’s rotten streak with movies with a twist ending.
How Caddo Lake’s Twist Ending Compares To M. Night Shyamalan’s Directed Thriller Movies
Caddo Lake’s Twist Has Been Compared To Those In Shyamalan’s Movies
Caddo Lake’s twists are very much like those in Shyamalan’s movies, but unlike recent ones, they were made in a way that landed a lot better.Caddo Lakeleads the audience to believe Paris and Ellie’s stories are parallel, but the more the story evolves, questions begin to arise about them. The first big question is why Paris isn’t involved in Anna’s search if he works in the lake, andCaddo Lakedrops the big clue of the Gemini necklace early on in the movie, which is key to following the sometimes tangled events and reveals.
Even the biggest tragedy at the end ofCaddo Lakehas to happen so that the rest of the movie can be.
Caddo Lake’s twists and endingwork because everything – every clue, detail, and tease – pays off at the end, and everything has a purpose in the story. Even the biggest tragedy at the end ofCaddo Lakehas to happen so that the rest of the movie can be, but not all of Shyamalan’s twist endings have been like that. The one inOldwas criticized for being underwhelming and not paying off all the suspense in the rest of the movie, and a similar underwhelming and borderline nonsensical twist had already been done two years earlier inGlass.
As mentioned above,Traprevealed its biggest twist in the trailer and the first minutes of the movie, and though it has a couple more twists later on, these were a lot smaller and less impactful than that of the identity of “the Butcher”.Caddo Lakecan positively influence future Shyamalan movies with twists by showing how to build up the big reveal and make it an actual, useful part of the story.
Why Caddo Lake Is M. Night Shyamalan’s Highest-Rated Rotten Tomatoes Movie Since The Sixth Sense
Caddo Lake Has Been Praised For Its Story & Performances
M. Night Shyamalan’s highest-rated movie onRotten TomatoesisThe Sixth Sense, with an 86% critics score, makingCaddo Lakehis highest-rated project since 1999. Critics are praising the performances ofCaddo Lake’s main castand its creative, though at times tangled and confusing story and its different twists.
Caddo Lake’s Timeline In Chronological Order
Max’s new thriller, Caddo Lake, has a confusing timeline that is also extremely important to the plot, so understanding its twists is essential.
Although most point out its slow beginning, most critics agree that, onceCaddo Lakepicks up its rhythm, the story is engaging and exciting enough to watch until the end. TheCaddo Lakebig twists might be predictable to some viewers, but they all pay off at the end and serve a purpose in the story and the lives of the main characters.
Caddo Lake (2024)
Caddo Lake follows a chilling mystery centered around a young girl’s disappearance in a small Texas town. As the community grapples with the unsettling events, hidden secrets and tensions unfold. Directed by nan, this suspenseful narrative explores themes of fear and the unknown surrounding Caddo Lake.
