Lucky McKee is a filmmaker who heavily adheres to the mantra of never making the same movie twice. Whilst his films all skew to the dark side of thrillers or horrors, each has its own unique style. Of all of McKee’s offerings, the director is best known for both May and The Woman, both of which had a compelling female protagonist. When added alongside McKee’s other bodies of work such as All Cheerleaders Must Die and Kindred Spirits, the director has become linked with strong female perspectives. All this changes with his latest film, Old Man.
In Old Man McKee shifts the focus to male characters. Set in the single location of a remote dwelling, Old Man stars Stephen Lang and Marc Senter. The two play strangers who cross paths after the younger man (Senter) knocks at the elder’s (Lang) door. He is lost and in need of shelter. The Old Man is immediately distrustful; he is not accustomed to visitors and makes his disdain abundantly clear. However, he does not cast the younger man out, instead allowing him to stay and listens to his story.
As the two men circle each other they begin to converse and Old Man introduces opinions on a wide-range of topics. An intimate two-hander with a frisson of danger that permeates throughout, Old Man shares a lot of similarities with Cody Calahan’s The Oak Room. That film took place in a bar and has a bartender and a patron telling each other stories unfolding on screen. This happens here on a much smaller scale, McKee relying on the hard work of Stephen Lang and Marc Senter to sell them. Their craftsmanship and chemistry is great and each holds the viewer whilst speaking. It’s a tall order to go so restrained and up close and personal with just two characters, but it’s a move that works.
Lang is excellent as the Old Man. Thanks to his roles in Avatar and Don’t Breathe, just seeing the actor appear now instantly puts the audience on edge and his character’s erratic behaviour plays perfectly into this unease. Senter, a regular of the indie genre scene, having had parts in Starry Eyes, The Free Fall, and Cabin Fever 2, his role in Old Man is one of his meatiest. Usually an ensemble cast member, Old Man lets Senter prove himself as a leading man. He holds his own against the acting institution that is Lang. It’s no small task and Senter’s accomplishments scream for future starring roles.
Far from your typical Lucky McKee film – not that the director hasn’t had a wildly varied career – Old Man is vastly different from his other work. More subdued and existential than his other movies, Old Man is a chamber piece of elegant words and philosophical musings. The intimate setting allows the conversations and performances to shine, building to a final conclusion that shocks and surprises. A clear project of dedication from all involved, Old Man shows a new side to McKee’s directorial talents, teasing more exciting projects to come.
Old Man
Summary
A new and exciting direction for Lucky McKee, Old Man expands the filmmaker’s repertoire with the help of two well-constructed performances.
Old Man is available on Digital platforms in the US now.
