Osgood Perkins' 'Keeper' Unleashes a Deeply Personal Cabin Nightmare This November

Ever had a movie leave you thinking, "What the f---?!" That's precisely how Tatiana Maslany describes her experience making Keeper, Osgood Perkins' latest horror offering, which promises to twist romantic getaways into a psychedelic folk horror nightmare this November. Get ready, because it sounds like a wild ride.

TL;DR

• Osgood Perkins' new horror film, Keeper, hits theaters on November 14, 2025.
• It stars Tatiana Maslany and Rossif Sutherland in a cabin-in-the-woods tale that quickly spirals into relationship terror.
• Top horror directors like Guillermo del Toro and James Wan are already raving about Perkins' "unforgettable experience" and "pure nightmare fuel."

Osgood Perkins: The Horror Auteur Who Keeps Us Guessing

Osgood Perkins isn't just making horror movies; he's becoming a bona fide maestro of dread, a true wizard crafting unsettling cinematic experiences. After making his feature directorial debut in 2015 with The Blackcoat's Daughter, Perkins has absolutely dominated the horror landscape, particularly in 2024 and 2025. His recent hits like Longlegs, which raked in over $125 million globally (Source: Arrow in the Head, "Osgood Perkins horror film Keeper unveils its final trailer," November 8, 2025), and The Monkey, grossing almost $64 million worldwide (Source: CBR, "Osgood Perkins horror film Keeper unveils its final trailer," November 8, 2025), have cemented his status as a formidable voice in the genre.

Now, with Keeper set to haunt theaters, Perkins isn't slowing down. He’s already on another set directing his next feature, The Young People. This rapid output, often with a consistent creative team, highlights his dedication and unique vision, allowing him to explore different facets of fear across varying styles and scales.

From Romantic Getaway to Psychedelic Dread: The Plot of 'Keeper'

Imagine this: a new couple, Liz (Tatiana Maslany) and Malcolm (Rossif Sutherland), off on their first romantic anniversary trip together to a secluded cabin in the woods. Sounds like the perfect rom-com setup, right? Well, with Perkins at the helm, you know that idyllic picture is about to shatter. Quickly, the story descends into folk horror and psychedelic weirdness, culminating in what's described as an ultimately dark fairytale.

The real terror begins when Malcolm unexpectedly returns to the city, leaving Liz isolated and alone. She soon finds herself in the presence of an unspeakable evil, an entity that begins to unveil the cabin's horrifying secrets. This isn't just about jump scares; it's about a relentless, mounting sense of dread that Perkins is so skilled at weaponizing. The mystery of how we get to some of the trailer's more bizarre imagery – like a black-eyed, screaming creature dripping primordial goo – is part of the fun Perkins has in store.

A Collaborative Nightmare Born from Unexpected Circumstances

What's fascinating about Keeper is its origin story. It was largely conceived and shot during the 2023 Hollywood writers' and actors' strikes. Perkins couldn't write his own script due to the WGA strike, so he teamed up with Canadian scribe Nick Lepard (known for Dangerous Animals), who was unaffiliated with the WGA. This allowed them to keep working, keeping their creative team together.

Perkins described the process as truly collaborative, almost making it up as they went along, which he says makes the film feel deeply personal, a hallmark of his filmography. Tatiana Maslany was integral to this process, with Perkins explicitly inviting her to "invent this together" (Source: FANGORIA.com, "KEEPER Review: Osgood Perkins Is Having Fun With This Twisted Nightmare," November 8, 2025). This unusual, fluid production method hints at the experimental and raw quality we might expect from the film.

"When you get someone like Tatiana, she has this unbelievable multidimensional way of looking at things, which wouldn't have met my two-dimensional way of looking at things. We ended up with something pretty textured, pretty deep. But that's her fault, not mine."

– Osgood Perkins, Director

Maslany herself echoes this sentiment, noting how Perkins allows for immense emotional space in performances. She's working with Perkins again on The Young People, her third collaboration with him, which speaks volumes about their creative synergy. This kind of contained, safe space for experimentation isn't always possible in filmmaking, making Keeper a unique project for all involved.

Unpacking the Horrors of Relationships and the Lies We Tell

Perkins has openly teased Keeper as a "relationship horror movie... where the relationship is the scary thing." Maslany expands on this, highlighting themes like "disgusting maleness" and "the horror of heterosexuality." They delve into the lies we tell ourselves about ourselves and our partners to stay in a relationship, and the traps of societal roles and expectations.

For example, imagine a couple, let’s call them Sarah and Tom, on their idyllic anniversary trip. Sarah starts noticing subtle shifts in Tom's behavior—a blank stare, a sudden coldness, or a strange, almost predatory smile he’s never shown before. What if the horror isn’t a monster under the bed, but the chilling realization that the person you share your life with, the one you trust most, is a stranger, or worse, holds a darkness you never perceived? This psychological unraveling, where the familiar becomes terrifying, is exactly the kind of intimate dread Keeper aims for.

The film uses visual cues, like obscuring parts of the frame, to echo the narrative’s theme of concealed truths, creating doubt and unease for the audience. A locket, seen in exclusive photos, contains a photo of a woman resembling Liz, adding another layer to the mystery and the idea of hidden pasts or inherited traumas. This deliberate visual storytelling is a hallmark of Perkins' craft, plunging viewers into a prolonged and relentlessly mounting sense of dread.

An Endorsement from Horror Royalty: What Icons Are Saying

Perhaps the most compelling buzz around Keeper comes from a chorus of legendary filmmakers who've had early screenings. Neon and Perkins orchestrated a unique marketing strategy, opting to show the film to his peers rather than just critics, and the praise has been thunderous:

• Hideo Kojima (game designer): "Once again, Osgood Perkins blends new fear and surprise. He is the wizard of horror." (Source: MovieWeb, "Osgood Perkins' Keeper Unleashes Final Trailer With Praise from Kojima, Del Toro, Wan, Bong Joon-ho & More," November 5, 2025)
• Guillermo del Toro (Oscar-winning director): "Keeper is horror origami that skillfully folds into itself." (Source: GamesRadar+, "Final trailer for Osgood Perkins’ “KEEPER” is a true creeper," November 5, 2025)
• James Wan (creator of The Conjuring and Saw): "A terrifying, ghostly descent into madness." (Source: CBR, "Osgood Perkins horror film Keeper unveils its final trailer," November 8, 2025)
• Fede Álvarez (director of Evil Dead and Alien: Romulus): "Keeper is an experience of pure terror." (Source: MovieWeb, "Osgood Perkins' Keeper Unleashes Final Trailer With Praise from Kojima, Del Toro, Wan, Bong Joon-ho & More," November 5, 2025)
• Bong Joon-ho (Oscar-winning director of Parasite): "Perkins has a natural talent for discomfort that transforms into fear." (Source: GamesRadar+, "Final trailer for Osgood Perkins’ “KEEPER” is a true creeper," November 5, 2025)

These aren't just casual compliments; they're strong endorsements from some of the most respected voices in cinema, particularly in the genre space. Such high praise from creators of this caliber builds immense anticipation, suggesting Keeper might deliver a truly unique and unsettling experience.

Anticipation Meets the Unknowable: Balancing Expectations

With such heavyweight endorsements and Perkins' proven track record, the expectations for Keeper are understandably sky-high. His work consistently challenges audiences, forcing them to confront "inherited trauma and the unknowability of death," as Maslany puts it (Source: GamesRadar+, "Final trailer for Osgood Perkins’ “KEEPER” is a true creeper," November 5, 2025). The film's intentional secrecy around its plot, while exciting, also means viewers are walking in largely blind, relying heavily on Perkins' reputation to deliver on the promise of "pure nightmare fuel."

However, the fact that Keeper was made "fast and on the fly" (Source: CBR, "Osgood Perkins horror film Keeper unveils its final trailer," November 8, 2025) and grew significantly in post-production could be seen as a double-edged sword. While it allowed for creative freedom and collaboration, some might wonder if a project developed so quickly could match the polished intensity of a film with a longer, more structured production. Yet, Maslany's genuine surprise and "what the f---" reaction upon seeing the final cut suggests the unconventional process only enhanced its impact, leading to something "pretty textured, pretty deep."

Final Preparations for Your Dark Trip to the Cabin

Keeper looks poised to be a significant addition to Osgood Perkins’ growing repertoire of unsettling horror. It’s a film that leans into the psychological and the surreal, promising not just scares but a deep, uncomfortable exploration of relationships and self-deception.

Practical takeaways for your viewing experience:

• Mark Your Calendars: Keeper opens in theaters on November 14, 2025. This is your first chance to witness the horror.
• Consider the Triple Feature: For the ultimate Oz Perkins marathon, look for the "Horrors of Osgood Perkins Triple Feature" on November 13, showcasing Longlegs, The Monkey, and Keeper in select theaters.
• Prepare for the Unexpected: Go in knowing that plot details are intentionally vague. This is a film designed to wash over you, with mystery being a key component of its terror.
• Bring a Friend (or Don't!): While it's a "relationship horror," watching with a partner might spark some interesting (or unsettling) post-movie discussions!
• Expect Adult Themes: With an "R" rating for violent content/gore, language, and some sexual references, it’s not for the faint of heart.

FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About 'Keeper'

When does Osgood Perkins' Keeper release? Keeper hits theaters on November 14, 2025. You can also catch it early as part of a triple feature on November 13. What is Keeper rated? The film is rated R for some violent content/gore, language, and some sexual references. Who stars in Keeper? Tatiana Maslany (Liz) and Rossif Sutherland (Malcolm) lead the cast, supported by Birkett Turton and Christin Park. What is the runtime of Keeper? Keeper has a runtime of 99 minutes.

Sources

• FANGORIA.com, "KEEPER Review: Osgood Perkins Is Having Fun With This Twisted Nightmare," November 8, 2025.
• MovieWeb, "Osgood Perkins' Keeper Unleashes Final Trailer With Praise from Kojima, Del Toro, Wan, Bong Joon-ho & More," November 5, 2025.
• GamesRadar+, "Final trailer for Osgood Perkins’ “KEEPER” is a true creeper," November 5, 2025.
• CBR, "Osgood Perkins horror film Keeper unveils its final trailer," November 8, 2025.
• Arrow in the Head, "Osgood Perkins horror film Keeper unveils its final trailer," November 8, 2025.
• Entertainment Weekly, "Tatiana Maslany on why making Osgood Perkins' Keeper was a 'what the f---' experience," October 28, 2025.
• Rue Morgue, "Final trailer for Osgood Perkins’ “KEEPER” is a true creeper," November 5, 2025.