Osgood Perkins is back with his latest feature, Keeper, debuting in theaters on November 14, showcasing his mastery of the psychological horror genre. This film marks a fresh collaboration with the creative team from his earlier success, Longlegs, bringing together writer Nick Lepard and Perkins’ distinctive dark vision. Keeping the process fluid and collaborative, Perkins and his team developed Keeper in a remote cabin setting, allowing improvisation and creativity to guide the project, resulting in a deeply personal yet haunting film.
The Story Behind Keeper: From Romance to Folk Horror
Keeper traces the journey of a newly-formed couple on their first trip away together. What begins with the familiar beats of a romantic comedy quickly shifts into unsettling folk horror and surreal imagery, culminating in a narrative that unfolds like a dark, twisted fairy tale. This shift reflects Perkins’ skill in blending genres to deliver unexpected psychological depth and tension.
Rising to Prominence in the Horror World
Since his 2015 feature debut with The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Osgood Perkins has solidified his place in the horror landscape, with 2024 and 2025 seeing his films Longlegs and The Monkey achieve significant success both critically and commercially. Keeper continues this trend, reinforcing Perkins’ reputation for crafting intricate stories that evoke fear through subtle psychological unease rather than overt shocks. As he films his next project, The Young People, Perkins maintains his momentum as a leading voice in the genre.
Visual Storytelling and Psychological Depth in Keeper
Filming Keeper in a single location – a secluded cabin – highlights Perkins’ command of confined spaces to build tension. The film explores relationship horror, focusing on the fear of not fully understanding the characters’ truths. Perkins uses visual techniques like obscured frames and layered montages to evoke a sense of mystery and disquiet, keeping the audience uneasy and intrigued. One striking sequence connects different women through a series of dissolving shots centered on steady eyes, hinting at underlying themes that deepen the story’s complexity.
Tatiana Maslany’s Central Role and Collaborative Performance
The heart of Keeper lies with Liz, portrayed by Tatiana Maslany, recognized for her compelling performance in The Monkey. Perkins approached Maslany with openness about the film’s improvisational nature, inviting her to collaborate fully throughout the process.
“I’ll meet you on the set every day, and we can sort of figure it out and talk about what we think it might be. If you’re up for inventing this together, then you should come and play with us.”
— Osgood Perkins, Director
Maslany embraced this challenge, contributing not only as an actor but as a creative partner shaping Liz’s journey. Perkins praised her multi-layered approach to the role, which enhanced the film’s depth.
“When you get someone like Tatiana, she has this unbelievable multidimensional way of looking at things, which wouldn’t have met my two-dimensional way of looking at things. We ended up with something pretty textured, pretty deep. But that’s her fault, not mine.”
— Osgood Perkins, Director
Maslany’s performance spans a broad emotional spectrum, moving from quiet inner strength to near breaking points, leveraging subtle expressions to communicate complexity. Keeper offered her and the team a safe and experimental environment to push creative boundaries rarely accessible in more structured productions.
The Mysterious Horror Elements and Visuals
The trailer for Keeper introduces viewers to disturbing imagery, including a shadowy figure with black eyes and primordial goo seeping from its mouth in a silent scream, signaling the film’s descent into intense horror territory. While the exact path leading to these moments is unclear, Perkins promises an intricate journey filled with unexpected terrors awaiting discovery deep in the woods.
Perkins’ Unique Ability to Create Unrelenting Dread
Throughout his career, Perkins has excelled at tapping into universal fears and prolonging a mounting sense of dread to captivate audiences. Keeper is expected to deliver this in full force, using his signature technique of weaponizing nightmare sensations to leave viewers deeply unsettled. The anticipation around this release is high, especially considering Perkins’ track record of elevating psychological horror to new heights.
What to Expect from Keeper’s Release and Beyond
Keeper will arrive in cinemas on November 14, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in Perkins’ latest psychological horror offering. As excitement builds, fans are encouraged to explore the trailer, piecing together clues and theories about the film’s dark narrative. Meanwhile, Perkins’ continued activity on his next project hints at a promising future filled with more innovative and terrifying stories.
