Plot twists have become a staple in the horror genre. For better or worse, viewers can expect this plot device to be rolled out in many of the films they see each year. While this can greatly benefit the wow factor of a film, it needs to be handled delicately. This is where the problem with Candlewood comes into play.
The film follows a pretty basic setup. A family moves into a wooded, rural area hoping to find a simpler life. As it happens, this area may or may not be haunted by the urban legend of two lovers. Candlewood attempts to be clever by leaving the reality of the haunting open ended during the film. This would normally cause the viewer to question if what they are seeing is truly happening to the characters.
However, Candlewood telegraphs what is happening by placing certain objects in nearly every shot of the film. I won’t tell you what they are but they are not hard to find. This quickly lets the viewer in on what is happening to our newly arrived locals. Instead of an intriguing mystery, viewers are left waiting for a twist they already know is coming.
Don’t get me wrong, Candlewood is by no means a terrible film. The acting is fairly good as are the set designs and effects. However, if they simply had more confidence in their audience, the film would have been more successful in its suspense. Candlewood is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango.
