The film opens with an Old Man (Stephen Lang) waking up from having a bad dream. Upon waking, he calls for Rascal (possibly a dog) and walks around a cabin, continuing to look for him. His search is interrupted by a loud knock at the front door, and the Old Man responds. We find out it is a man named Joe (Marc Senter) on the other side, and after a brief back and forth, the Old Man decides to open the door fully.
Joe explains to the Old Man that he got lost while hiking and spotted his cabin from afar. Naturally, the Old Man is highly suspicious of Joe. At first, he questions Joe’s motives for even being in the area and why he would travel alone. No matter Joe’s answers, the Old Man raises more questions, worried that perhaps someone close to him is setting him up and Joe’s unexpected presence could have an alternate meaning. As the two continue to converse and discuss their lives on a deeper level, time passes, revealing that someone in the cabin is hanging on to a dark secret.
Old Man is best described as a thriller. Dialogue heavy, it is entirely set in a cabin excluding brief moments of flashbacks. Due to the dialogue and limited setting, it feels similar to a stage play. The dialogue here, for the most part, is enjoyable, mainly when its lines are delivered by Stephen Lang, who is the film’s biggest highlight. Stephen Lang successfully brings his character to life, showing us his suspicion of Joe’s presence and his own dark and strange moments. These moments keep viewers guessing if he is, in fact, someone who should be feared.
While the leading performances here are solid from Stephen Lang, other actors, including Marc Senter as Joe, aren’t as strong. While the film attempts to create a creepy and tense mood, there are no significant suspenseful moments here. The prime focus is just two men talking, leaving viewers to wait for key details and final reveals. The key reveals enlighten the action that has passed, rewarding patient viewers.
Overall, Old Man is a thriller with a strong lead performance from actor Stephen Lang who is mysterious, dramatic, and menacing. Sadly, other actors don’t shine as brightly, nor does the tension or suspense. The dialogue, for the most part, is excellent, and at various times this film does feel like a stage play with its heavy conversations and rewarding conclusion for those who can ride the movie out with patience.
Old Man (2022) is Available on DVD & Digital from August 9th!
5.2/10
26th July 2023
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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