Cleverly written and stylish, The Loft is a perfect example of how who-done-it movies should be made. It will keep you guessing as it twists its way through a complex and yet easily understandable story. As someone who usually hates these “rich people” movies where they enjoy things that ordinary people can only dream of, I really liked this one. It’s a remake of a Belgian movie of the same name released back in 2008. One of the first things you’re going to notice about it is stellar cinematography with vibrant colors. It goes hand in hand with the subject of rich and powerful people’s shenanigans. The movie was shot in 2011 but released some three years later due to the distribution dispute.
Granted, after you finished the movie, it might seem a bit childish and like it had you under some kind of spell for ninety minutes. If you’re looking for a movie to keep your attention, that’s not a bad thing at all. Starring young and dashing males and females, its cast is also easy on the eyes. They might seem cold and distant, something that was probably left over from the tone of the original but are still pretty convincing. The story keeps jumping from past to present, explaining shit and pulling you deeper into the mystery of who done it. After the first fifteen minutes, you’ll be spinning out outrageous theories that will get crazier as we’re getting closer to the finale.
Five affluent and successful men, all married, share a secret. A secret that could break their marriages and even jeopardize their jobs. That secret is a loft that all five of them use to have extramarital affairs. Vincent Stevens, an architect and the man who designed the building that the loft is situated in came up with the idea to avoid hotel and credit card bills. And it would seem that everything worked out great as men continue to use the loft over the next few months. One morning, however, one of them discovers a dead body of a beautiful girl laying in the bed they used for their sordid affairs. And the whole thing starts spinning out of control.
It’s hard to find movies like The Loft. A visually appealing mystery perfectly balanced to keep you entertained. We can recommend Knives Out, Murder on the Orient Express and Identity although Bad Times at the El Royale might be the best fit. However, all of them are missing this sort of almost a “soap opera” moment that we see here. The mix of sex, infidelity, murder, power and prestige that feels like you’re watching people whose lives aren’t real. I can’t quite explain the vibe but if you check out this movie, I’m sure you’re going to get it. There’s also a healthy dose of “I wish I could do those things” present here too. I wish I was that young, good-looking, rich and sexually active. However, there’s more to this superficial style of life than meets the eye. So, if you’re looking for a bit of murder mystery mixed with a couple of other interesting themes, look no further than effective The Loft.
Director: Erik Van Looy
Writers: Bart De Pauw, Wesley Strick
Cast: Karl Urban, James Marsden, Wentworth Miller, Eric Stonestreet, Matthias Schoenaerts, Isabel Lucas, Rachael Taylor, Rhona Mitra, Valerie Cruz
Fun Facts: Matthias Schoenaerts played a lead role in the Belgian original Loft (2008) and is the only actor cast to reprise his role.
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IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1850397/
