The upcoming psychological horror film Keeper, directed by Oz Perkins, is set to deliver more chills to audiences when it premieres on November 14. Featuring the intense performances of Tatiana Maslany and Rossif Sutherland, the film follows Maslany’s character, Liz, as her attempt at a tranquil escape spirals into terror, placing the Tatiana Maslany Keeper horror film at the center of buzz among genre fans.
Early glimpses of Keeper show Perkins continuing his mysterious approach to marketing, keeping many plot elements under wraps, just as he did with his earlier film Longlegs. New imagery released through Collider’s Exclusive Preview event features a disturbing moment for Maslany’s Liz—illuminated by an orange hue while unseen hands tightly grasp her throat, underscoring the film’s tense and harrowing atmosphere. Liz and her partner Malcolm, played by Rossif Sutherland, travel to a secluded cabin in search of peace, but the retreat turns nightmarish after Malcolm is called back to the city, leaving Liz alone. In isolation, she is confronted by a malevolent entity that gradually unveils the grim secrets of the cabin’s past.
Unpacking Keeper’s Psychological Themes
During a discussion at San Diego Comic-Con with Collider’s Perri Nemiroff, Oz Perkins provided insight into the deeper layers of Keeper, explaining the film’s focus extends beyond classic horror tropes.
“It sort of wears the vestments of a cabin in the woods, single location, something-trippy-is-going-on-in-this-space movie. But in reality, it’s sort of a relationship horror. Like, why are relationships so weird and hard? Who are we really? What is this about? How does this end? Why did this start? Can we go back to before we knew each other? Wouldn’t that be something? In certain relationships, we get to the end of it, and it’s like, ‘You know, what would be amazing? Is if I could just have never known you ever at all. That would be fine with me.’ And so I think that’s the sauce of the movie, is sort of relationships and what they do to us.”
— Oz Perkins, Director
This complex emotional backdrop sets Keeper apart, making the horror personal as it explores the ambiguities and burdens of intimate relationships against the literal threat lurking in the woods.
Maslany and Perkins’ Ongoing Collaboration
Keeper marks another collaboration between director Oz Perkins and Tatiana Maslany. Earlier in the year, the duo worked together on The Monkey, an adaptation of a Stephen King short story. In that project, Maslany played a quirky and devoted mother alongside Theo James and Christian Convery, navigating horror rooted in familial bonds and supernatural chaos. Their ongoing partnership in Keeper promises a further evolution of their creative synergy, transitioning from ensemble horror-comedy to a tense, focused psychological thriller.
Their prior work, combined with Perkins’ reputation for brooding, atmospheric narratives, has set expectations high for Keeper to deliver both emotional and supernatural tension. Fans and critics alike are keeping a close eye on updates from Collider’s Exclusive Preview event and other promotional releases as anticipation builds toward the film’s debut.
Cast and Characters: Bringing Keeper to Life
The centerpiece of Keeper is the relationship between its two main characters. Tatiana Maslany stars as Liz, whose emotional journey forms the backbone of the story. Rossif Sutherland portrays Malcolm, her partner whose sudden departure triggers the film’s descent into chaos. The complex interplay between these characters is essential to the film’s psychological tension, drawing viewers into the struggle between safety, loneliness, and the uncanny.
Perkins’ vision for Keeper, along with the talents of the cast, aims to probe the darkness at the heart of both fear and intimacy, promising a chilling narrative that challenges its audience to question the boundaries of reality, memory, and trust.
Looking Ahead: Horror and Humanity in Keeper
As the November release approaches, Keeper stands out for its blend of supernatural dread and unresolved personal conflict, making it a compelling addition to Oz Perkins’ growing body of work. Building on his previous successes and the compelling work of performers like Tatiana Maslany, Keeper is positioned to unsettle and engage viewers, both for its scares and the emotional truths it draws out. Anticipation for more insights and reveals is expected to intensify as additional previews emerge, with audiences eager to see how this charged psychological horror unfolds in theaters.
