Max's 'Caddo Lake' Review: The Less You Know, the Better

Here’s what I can tell you about Caddo Lake: It was released on Max this past weekend. Co-written and co-directed by Celine Held and Logan George, it’s their second film after 2020’s remarkable Topside. It stars Dylan O’Brien and Eliza Scanlen as two residents of a small, rundown border town near Caddo Lake, with co-stars Eric Lage, Sam Hennings, and a standout performance by Lauren Ambrose. The film follows the leads, Paris and Ellie, as they search for clues to a series of separate yet intertwined mysteries, all connected by the disappearance of Ellie’s sister, Anna.

That’s all I’ll say, as Caddo Lake is one of those mind-bending films that deserves a viewing with minimal background knowledge. It’s a riveting, hypnotic piece that starts slowly but becomes utterly entrancing once the search for clues begins. It’s weird, beautiful, and often deeply confusing, with a series of twists that sometimes defy explanation—you may find yourself rewinding scenes to understand what’s happening both in the moment and by the end.

Despite this, it’s a fulfilling watch, filled with excellent performances. O’Brien, best known as the goofy Stiles in the Teen Wolf TV series, completely sheds that persona here, embodying a character as quiet, moody, and enigmatic as the film itself. Scanlen plays the rough-edged, misunderstood archetype who means well but is often misjudged—think Julia Garner in Ozark but with better intentions. Both performances are flawless, and even with the film’s slow, steady pacing and lack of traditional action, it draws viewers in and holds their attention.

Caddo Lake is a terrific film worth watching and discussing (though not here — no spoilers, please). It’s often baffling, sometimes difficult to weave together, yet hard to resist. This strange, lovely, tragic world is filled with characters trying to make sense of what’s happened to them and those around them, all set against a lush, stark landscape evocatively captured by the directors. While the performances are outstanding, the film’s rarest feat is its ability to genuinely surprise you.