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 set in the cabin and centers around the interactions and dynamics between the 6 friends. While the film’s central surprise becomes clear early on to those familiar with the tropes in these movies, Bergstrom keeps the tension high through effective elements, including Gunnar Sonstevold’s score and Ragnar Sorensen’s cinematography. Visually, the film can be quite striking at times, and is certainly evocative of fellow Scandinavian Ingmar Bergman, who was already a household name by this time. While not very well known outside of its native Norway, Lake of the Dead is worth seeking out as an early example of Scandinavian horror as well as an early example of folk horror more generally. The film, while not a masterpiece, is still captivating.

7/10