Lake of the Dead (Kåre Bergstrøm, 1958, Norway)
Lake of the Dead is a 1958 Norwegian horror film directed by Kare Bergstrom. Considered the first major horror film in Norway, the film was based on a novel by Andre Bjerke. Though the film is certainly horror and occupies a position with the folk horror tradition, in many respects it is equally a mystery. There are many parallels to Agatha Christie in the film’s central mystery. Interestingly, the film also bears some parallels to The Haunting of Hill House , though Shirley Jackson’s book came out afterward. The film centers on a group of highly educated Oslo friends who head to a cabin in the woods to meet Werner, Liljan’s (one of the friends) brother. When they arrive at the cabin, they discover that Werner is missing and his dog is dead in the lake nearby. The group uncovers a legend about the lake and a murder that took place there in the past. Supposedly, the lake has powers that bring people into its spell. Clocking in at not much more than 70 minutes, the film is mainly s...
