I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Jack Ketchum's novel, itself inspired by a true story, provides the basis for this chilling look at the actions of a young sociopath, not giving a damn about anybody or anything, and capable of chilling acts of violence. One day, he murders two young women, and his two friends, despite their misgivings about his character, cover up for him. Cut to four years later, and he's still walking around free. Detectives know he's guilty, but can't prove it. It's only a matter of time until the unhinged young man will explode again, and when he believes the people in his life, including his new girlfriend, are all betraying him or letting him down, the stage is set for a bloody revenge.This works more like a series of episodes for a while, rather than an ongoing story, and is deliberately paced and character driven. Writer / co-producer / director Chris Sivertson sometimes goes for stylistic flourishes, but more often than not handles the material in a straightforward manner. It manages to be subtly spooky and only towards the end does it really get intense; this final act is shocking in its brutality. There's a bit of titillation (breast shots and full fledged nudity) and a respectable amount of gore at the end. As the movie goes on, one feels more and more uncomfortable in the presence of such a smarmy psycho. Actor Marc Senter is compelling in the lead role of Ray Pye, playing him with an effective mixture of uneasy charm and genuine creepiness. His co-stars Shay Astar, Alex Frost, Megan Henning, and Robin Sydney are also good in their own way, and some excellent veterans - Michael Bowen, Ed Lauter, and Dee Wallace - provide some wonderful support. Lauter has one of his best roles in a while, but it's disappointing to see Wallace's participation basically limited to one big scene. Ruby Larocca and always delectable Misty Mundae play the murder victims in the opening sequence.One may wish that the ending weren't as abrupt as it is (there's no epilogue of any kind), but all in all "The Lost" is fairly potent stuff that doesn't leave the viewer unaffected. Ketchum really is a master at telling these grim and gut wrenching horror stories.Seven out of 10.

This is a weird movie to review. It is filed under a serial killer horror. But it is so-called based on a true event, well, it isn't. It clocks in at almost 2 hours and for the horror geeks, nothing really happens until the end. But the movie is saved by the excellent acting.This flick tells the story of Ray Pye but I am also in the lives of serial killers and let me say, Ray never existed. The only thing that came close was the Charles Schmid case. Just like Ray here Schmid was a short man who wore cowboy boots stuffed with newspapers and flattened cans to make him appear taller. He used lip balm, pancake makeup and created an artificial mole on his cheek. Schmid was sentenced to 50 years in prison but was stabbed 47 times by two fellow prisoners on March 10, 1975. He lost an eye and a kidney and died 20 days later. Schmid strangled Gretchen Fritz and her sister Wendy, earlier he killed Alleen Rowe.Nothing of that is shown in this flick were we have a lot of talking. But I said it before it is really the excellent acting that saves this slow builder. Towards the end we really got into some messy shots when Ray goes berserk. I would mention Marc Senter (Ray Pye) and Robin Sydney (Katherine Wallace) who really did an excellent job. Marc we knew from Cabin Fever 2, Robin from Wicked Lake. But there is more to see, Ed Lauter is in it as is Michael Bowen both know for years in too many flicks to mention. Dee Wallace has a small role (ET, The Howling, Hill Have Eyes)and for the perverted Misty Mundae is also in this flick doing what she can do best, walking naked full frontal. Here she's in her pseudonym Erin Brown. Still funny that she's not shaved or trimmed at all and still is popular by so many. Nevertheless, the movie goes on and it is over before you know it but it do has some slow parts in it. Maybe if they could have cut it to 90 minutes it would have been more interesting. If you like a good suspense then this is for you, it contains a lot of nudity, and the last scene is maybe a bit offending for some. Gore 1/5 Nudity 2/5 Effects 3/5 Story 2/5 Comedy 0/5

OK. I saw all of these glowing reviews on IMDb and thought I'd rent it from Netflix. I was not disappointed. I'm not going to write a lengthy introspective essay on how well this film worked...it just did.I honestly thought that the actor portraying Ray Pye was not just good, but phenomenal! Yeah, he was. I could see that he had nailed this part from the get go. If you took Anthony Perkins and bolted on double turbo chargers, he still wouldn't have come close to this portrayal of a young man losing himself to his own mind.The Lost's lead actor was by far the best example of psychosis I have seen on screen--ever! Ray Pye's slow mental breakdown had my heart rate on full throttle. The scenes of violence were depicted in such a way that it was believable.The only flaw in this film was it's length and even that is arguable. All in all, this movie was very very well made and I whole heartedly recommend this to anyone. Warning: you may rip the arms of your seat off!

First, whilst i'm sure the filmmakers did not have a substantial budget, I did not notice any telltale signs of a low budget production. Second, the story is fascinating. Characters at the polar extreme of an intriguing personality type make great film subjects. Despite the lead character's cavalier attitude to the murder of other HUMAN BEINGS(!) the story is nonetheless believable. This is a great credit to the filmmakers. The beer cans in Ray's boots to elevate his stature and the make-up to smooth over any cracks in a fragile (almost porcelain) veneer plainly expose the vanity of a seriously self-obsessed individual. Finally, the lead actor playing the part of Ray Pye ABSOLUTELY nails it.I don't like indie films generally but this was a winner. If you like films like 'seven' and '8mm' then i'd happily recommend this movie.