‘Lanier’ VOD Review
Stars: Ali Ashtigo, Jamie Lee, Jarrett Michael Collins, Shekeb Sekander, Riley Madison Fuller, Angel McCoughtry, Patrick Lemon, Shan Moreno, Ava Metallo, Chris Johnson | Written and Directed by William Eric Bush-Anderson, Cindy Kunz-Anderson
Lanier, the feature debut from writer/directors William Eric Bush-Anderson and Cindy Kunz-Anderson, tackles an ambitious premise: blending supernatural horror with real historical tragedy. The film centers on Lake Lanier, an area notoriously linked with eerie drownings and haunted lore, and the submerged town of Oscarville, a once-thriving Black community violently erased in the early 20th century.
The story follows Detective Jeff Stevenson, who, during a family vacation at Lake Lanier, becomes involved in a suspicious drowning investigation. As Jeff teams up with local detective Daniel Wilson, he is drawn deeper into the unsettling history of the lake and its dark connection to Oscarville’s destruction. Through this investigation, the film attempts to weave themes of racial injustice, generational trauma, and the lingering impact of violence into a chilling narrative.
Despite its compelling subject matter, Lanier struggles to meet the potential of its concept. The acting across the board is often stiff and unconvincing, which weakens the emotional stakes and leaves many of the film’s more dramatic moments feeling flat. The plot, while rich in possibilities, comes across as fragmented, with supernatural horror elements that feel underdeveloped and tension that fails to fully materialize. The film’s pacing is uneven, often dragging during moments that should be building suspense.
Visually, the production has a low-budget aesthetic that might have worked if leveraged effectively, but instead often feels unpolished. Sound design and cinematography—critical elements for crafting a genuinely scary atmosphere—are serviceable at best and distracting at worst. The film does make commendable efforts to incorporate the real history behind Lake Lanier, offering glimpses into the horrific racial violence that shaped the area’s legacy. Unfortunately, these moments of historical depth are not fully integrated into the horror narrative, leaving the film feeling disjointed.
Where Lanier succeeds is in its ambition. Few horror films attempt to grapple with such weighty historical material, and the effort to educate as well as entertain is notable. However, ambition alone cannot save a film whose basic elements—acting, writing, pacing—fall short.
Ultimately, Lanier is an uneven viewing experience. It may interest audiences curious about the true history of Lake Lanier and Oscarville, but those seeking a gripping horror film will likely come away disappointed. Bush-Anderson and Kunz-Anderson show flashes of bold storytelling vision, but in their debut effort, they struggle to find the cohesion and craftsmanship needed to fully realize it.
** 2/5
Lanier is out now on DVD from Reel 2 Reel Films.
