Common Sense Media Review
By Stefan Pape
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Creepy horror has themes of murder and psychosis; language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Caveat
What's the Story?
CAVEAT is the story of a lone drifter, Isaac (Jonathan French), who suffers from partial memory loss. Isaac is asked by his old landlord, Barret (Ben Caplan), to undertake a seemingly easy job, of keeping his vulnerable niece, Olga (Leila Sykes), company for a few days. Isaac accepts, seeing it as easy money, until he realizes just how isolated he will be, and how confined his movements within the house are.
Is It Any Good?
This debut feature film from writer and director Damian Mc Carthy is a claustrophobic, harrowing, and unsettling horror. Thanks to a really impressive production design, Caveat makes for a creepy immersive experience. So much so you can almost smell the grimy house the story plays out in. The performances impress too, with French in particular turning in a strong display. His character, Isaac, is not just fighting against other characters seeking to bring him down, but his own inner demons, and French carries all of these complexities in an assured manner.
The character development is a little lacking though, and while Mc Carthy strives to be unique and stray away from genre conventions, it does fall into some familiar trappings as we reach the closing act. So while the movie thrives in its atmosphere, and the way it looks and feels, it does let itself down with a lackluster story. That said, this creepy, disquieting film is one that is good enough to recommend. Though unlikely to ever be one you'd want to sit through again. And the less said about the terrifying rag doll bunny playing the drums, the better. Not if you want to sleep tonight.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Caveat's scary stuff. Which bits did you find most unsettling? How did the look and feel of the movie add to its creepy atmosphere? What's the appeal of scary movies?
Did you find the movie violent? How much is shown, and how much is suggested? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
How was psychosis and mental illness portrayed in the film? Was it sensitively handled? Why is it important to see such portrayals in movies, and why must such care be taken when they are shown on-screen?
Talk about the strong language used in the movie. Did the fact that it was infrequent make it more shocking when it occurred? What did it bring to the story? Was it necessary?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : June 3, 2021
- Cast : Jonathan French , Ben Caplan , Leila Sykes
- Director : Damian McCarthy
- Studio : Shudder
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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