Lovely, Dark, and Deep is an unsettling cosmic horror about loss and the secrets of the forest. Written and directed by Teresa Sutherland’s in her feature length debut, the title of the movie is taken from a line of Robert Frost’s poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.

The film stars Georgina Campbell as Lennon a park ranger who is getting used to the new job. Of course, it’s not long before things start to turn sinister for Lennon, but they are determined to make it work. We find out later on in the film there’s something personal that’s keeping Lennon from running out of a dangerous situation.

Georgina Campbell really creates a character that we are drawn to with a heartbreaking personal story. We are with Lennon throughout the film and the command and presence from Georgina really pushes the story forward. It’s a moody psychological horror at its core, with some interesting lore involving the forest. There are countless stories of the various national parks and the people that go missing there every year. In Lovely, Dark, and Deep they try to answer those questions with some cosmic horror roots. Of course, the film is also balancing the personal story that is at its heart with this almost “creepypasta” like horror.

This is where the film can fumble a bit just because both are so interesting, but we don’t really get a lot of either. I would have loved to explore more of the horrors the forest hides as well as learning more of Lennon’s past. Although the film has some bits that feel they are missing something I think what really brings it together is its ability to hold you in suspense. We witness as Lennon loses grip with reality and begins to cave into these nightmares. The horrors of these visions are unsettling and almost uncanny at times. Lovely, Dark, and Deep really shines here with making quiet and darkness so terrifying.

In the end, everyone here excels and give us some nightmarish fuel scenes while also driving forward a personal story of letting go. Lovely, Dark, and Deep has some of the most intricate and gorgeous forest scenes and also showcases Georgina Campbell’s range. It’s a great debut for Teresa Sutherland and has us excited for that they’ll do next.

We give Lovely, Dark, and Deep a 3.5/5.