There are some people who love the writing of Jack Ketchum whereas I don’t honestly have an opinion either way. What I can tell you however is that the film adaptation of his book The Girl Next Door was a very uncomfortable viewing, but one that was still enjoyable despite some scenes that really were over-the-top, something that’s perfect for any type of movie. So, when The Lost came for review, I had a fairly good idea of what I could expect, at least that’s what I had assumed.

The Lost is Ketchum’s 2001 novel, and the film which bears the same name, begins with Ray Pye (Marc Senter) and some friends having some fun at a local lake where Ray runs into two teenage girls out enjoying some skinny-dipping. As the hour grows later, Ray begins to wonder what it would be like to kill them and finally acts on that fantasy, dumping the bodies in the lake and swearing his friends to keep the crime a secret.

Four years have now passed and Ray seems to have gotten away with murder. But, a local detective, Charlie Schilling (Michael Bowen) has a good suspicion that Ray is the one behind the murders and has decided to try and catch Ray at long last by looking for a murderer who committed a similar crime only recently. Ray meanwhile has found himself a new girlfriend, Katherine Wallace (Robin Sydney) and eventually confides in her some of his dark secrets, but that’s only the first Ray will take down a dark and twisted path of violence and murder.

The idea behind both the book and the film could have been one that was rather entertaining were it not for the fact that quite honestly, I’ve seen this before, and quite a few times as a matter of fact. The concept here is almost like a reversal of I Know What You Did Last Summer, but in this case, it was no accident and there's no killer seeking revenge and instead, it's a matter of trying to hide the truth, but again, this isn’t the first time that this idea has been told and retold. The Lost at one point almost becomes a sort of “truth or dare” type of scenario when Ray and Katherine discuss things they have lies about and the most devious and dark things that they have done.

As the film moves forward, Ray begins to degenerate more and more, becoming more cruel and vicious, becoming more and more wrapped up in drug use, womanizing, and there is an overall change in his appearance. But, Ray’s new “look” really is much more like a blend of Johnny Cash, so Ray takes on the man in black look, with a touch of Billie Joe Armstrong and a Emo look. It’s not threatening or imposing, and while it is meant to show the overall change, it’s not something that is terrifying in the least.

Much of the film is spent seeing Ray delve into the realm of depravity and while you’d expect it to start horribly and get worse, that’s not what happens at all. In fact, it’s not until the final moments of the movie where there is true violence, and Ketchum once again attempts to go for a more realistic approach to his brand of torment and cruelty. The last portion of the film however has some similarities character wise as we find Ray becoming something of a Frank Booth (Dennis Hooper’s character in Blue Velvet) and Mickey Knox (from Natural Born Killers.) It’s far too cliché and the similarities are quite easy to see.

Tossed in for good measure is a side story that becomes a bit more important as the movie moves on involving Ed Anderson (Ed Lauter), Charlie Schilling’s former partner, seeing a much, much younger woman, Sally Richmond (Megan Henning), but to me it really feels more like Ketchum trying to toss in an idea that many would find to be taboo or in some cases, simply disgusting. The Lost feels just like that, it’s lost in trying to find its way to the finale and wants to attempt to simply find every button to push that it possibly can, but unfortunately, it’s not anything that is new or original.

The DVD includes commentary from Ketchum and Monica O'Rourke, though I personally found it to be a bit on the dry side and uninteresting. There are also outtakes, audition footage, and storyboard comparisons, but overall there isn’t anything that makes a lasting impression.

The Lost in comparison to The Girl Next Door really feels tame and isn’t the shock to the senses that I was hoping for. Even an appearance by Dee Wallace isn’t the type of thing that really draws me in, and her role is actually rather small and is more or less a “notable guest star” billing. What I do have to wonder however is if everything that Ketchum has written follows this same pattern; a slow build up to final moments to viciousness. While I might not normally be bothered by it, I also dislike seeing someone become a one-trick pony. If you’ve already seen The Girl Next Door, this film will be quite a let down, but if you haven’t, I would recommend if you’re curious, watch this first, then go for The Girl Next Door.

-mike-