Rent Lost Child (2017)

A compelling and mysterious tale - Lost Child review by NP

This is a wonderfully original horror story involving an Army Veteran (Fern Sreaves, played by Leven Rambin), who returns home to discover a lone boy in the forest surrounding her home. The child, Cecil, is (mercifully) played in a very appealing fashion by Landon Edwards. Any sign of precociousness sometimes displayed by juvenile performers would have destroyed the story – because Cecil might not be an ordinary boy. As Fern is warned by several family members and townsfolk, there are rumours about a deadly spirit in the form of a child. When Fern begins to get sick, events take on a yet darker turn …

I really enjoyed this film. Director and co-writer Ramaa Mosley has crafted a terrific, increasingly compelling and mysterious tale that manages to be occasionally unnerving and sinister without employing much in the way of traditional horror trappings. Because of this, some viewers might feel a little short-changed by the lack of traditional scares and effects. For me, this wonderful looking, rustic, haunted woodlands story is very enjoyable and in places, genuinely moving. My score is 8 out of 10.