Cabin by the Lake

Plot synopsis:
Stanley (Judd Nelson) is a reclusive screenwriter who lives by a beautiful and large lake. His hobby is kidnapping teenage girls, imprisoning them in a soundproof room with a two-way mirror, then taking them out to the lake on his boat, attaching their feet to a concrete block and pushing them overboard (he asks them how they feel knowing they are about to die). He particularly likes to reach into the water, grab them by their hair and pull them up again so he can study their faces more carefully, before dropping them again permanantly.Stanley has at least five or six of these bodies floating in the lake, ranging in decomp status from skeleton to perfect flesh. Each is dressed in a different outfit. Stanley likes to scuba out to his "garden" every day and clean any detritus accumulating around their bodies, and to make sure their costumes stay in place as they rot.Stanley is doing this because he is "researching" for his latest script; called The Cabin on the Lake, it is about a man who kidnaps girls and drowns them in a lake. He has already sold this script through an agent, and a director is going to make it shortly.One girl, Mallory (Hedy Burress) manages to escape from drowning and is rescued by handsome sherriff Boone (Michael Weatherley from NCIS). She is unable to identify her kidnapper, however she creates a sketch with an artist. Boone comments how similar to his good friend Stan the sketch looks.The local law enforcment team decides that in order to catch the kidnapper they will take Mallory to a local creature-creation business which molds fake latex bodies for use in movies. Two SPFX artists make a full body cast of Mallory and hide a video camera inside one eyeball. The cops take it out to the lake and leave it in Mallory's place. Sure enough Stan heads out to the garden on time to tend to his garden, however he touches the body and notices that Mallory is made of latex. They cops fail to catch him, and because of the scuba mask the video images are hopeless; they still have no idea who the murderer is.Boone takes Mallory to a motel for the night. There is some kind of chemistry developing between Boone and Mallory. She asks him to stay but he refuses because he is on duty. Stanley, now knowing that Mallory has escaped, turns up at the motel, as Mallory is taking a bath, and recaptures her. He re-imprisons her at his house; it is important to him that Mallory drown IN the lake and not at the motel.When Boone returns to the motel the next morning he thinks that Mallory simply left without telling him, as Stan has cleared the room of all her belongings.Stan develops some kind of complex feelings for Mallory, and watches her a lot through the mirror, touching his hand opposite to hers when she touches the mirror. He also tries submerging himself in the bath to see what drowning would be like; it seems he can hold his breath for a VERY long time.Stan's agent and the director turn up at his cabin by the lake to discuss some changes they want to make to the script. Stan has a lot of animosity towards the director, and while the agent is on the phone he stabs the director in the chest with a kitchen knife (Stan appears to be very calm but is clearly flipping out by now). He throws the agent into the soundproof room with Mallory, and prepares his boat for them both.Meanwhile, back at the creature-creation business, three pert actresses have turned up to have full body casts made for the horror movie thay have been cast in. As the artists pour the gel over the first one they ask about the movie. The actresses explain its about a guy who kidnaps girls, imprisons them, then drowns them in the lake, and tends his garden of corpses. The SPFX artists exclaim in horror at the similarity to the real-life case they just worked on, and demand to know who the writer is, but the actresses don't know. After a few phone calls, they find out the scriptwriter is... Stanley.The SPFX artists call Boone, as Stan loads the agent and Mallory onto his boat. Boone heads to Stan's house just in time to see Stan's boat pulling out. Boone radios for help and the SPFX artists head out in their own boat with their scuba-diving equipment.Stan drops Mallory and the agent, attached to concrete block, off the boat as Boone and his backup arrive; Stan then jumps in himself. Everyone gets in the water. One SPFX artist cuts Mallory loose. As Stan tries to pull her back under they then tie the loose rope around Stan's leg. Boone shares a regulator with Mallory, and the two of them watch as Stan drowns. Once they surface the boat drifts, and Boone et al cannot find the bodies of the agent or Stan again. As light fades they call off the search. The next day they find the body of the agent, but ah ha! Stan's body is gone, just a cut rope remains.Mallory tries to reclaim her love of the water by swimming fully clothed off a beach while Boone watches, but thinks she sees Stan and freaks out.The actresses bitch at a restaurant that their movie was cancelled because the director was murdered.And as the movie closes we see an agent at lunch with a new client, who is explaining the new screenplay he is working on. A man kidnaps teenage girls, imprisons them, then buries them alive in his backyard. He picks the girls because their hands match his own. The camera pans around and we see the scriptwriter is Stan, heavily disguised. The agent asks him how long it takes the girls to die when they are buried alive, and Stand replies that he doesn't know; he's still doing research.End Credits.

Tags: comedy, murder

Review:
I had been wanting to see this movie when I saw it previewed on the USA channel, and when it finally came on,I got to watch it.
It was a good thriller/horror/comedy film.
Judd Nelson played him just right, really giving the impression of a regular guy just trying to do his job.Some other reviewers have questioned the genre classification of this film, and I'd just like to throw in my two cents.
I looked up the individual who wrote this film, and he was a guy who had been in Hollywood for a while, so I'm thinking given the whole subplot with Stan's agent and the director, that this may be a dark (VERY dark) satire of Hollywood and the people who try to make a living in that town, much like "Swimming With Sharks", another fine film.Some other reviewers complained about a lack of explanation as to why Stan does what he does, but I am not one of them.
No one else has to know.Good well-played villain, a darkly humorous look at the Hollywood system, and some wickedly funny moments add up to a worthwhile film..
I'll tell ya, I feel sorry for Judd Nelson and all the bad rap he gets; as far as his performance in this movie goes, he totally maintains the mood.
Cabin by the Lake is a made-for-tv movie originally aired on USA, however, I now own it and it's sequel on dvd.
The underwater scenes were done quite nicely, and the soundtrack isn't so bad either...however it's hard to find any other song from the movie other than "Cure" by the Wild Colonials.
If you're a fan of Judd Nelson, serial killer movies, and overall cheesy fun, you'll be sure to add this flick to your collection so you can watch it over and over again.
If you liked this movie, check out it's sequel...Return to Cabin by the Lake...it's really DEEP!
I'm sure there are some who will complain about the very end of the film, but personally I like that sort of thing.:)  I would have liked to have seen a few more of his "garden" getting collected, but with all the commercials they have to put in I know their time is limited.
Since watching this movie three years ago, I have discovered my true passion, writting, and it was inspired by this film.
The ending is somewhat reminecent of Psycho, the synister stare into the camera and I love it, it still sends chills down my spine when I see Judd Nelsons final stare.
I was at first doubtful of whether or not this would be an even tolerable movie, I'm usually wary of "Network Movie Originals." The directing is wonderful and Judd Nelson is a great actor who adds much depth (pardon the pun) and credibility to the character.
The movie follows the "Garden" of a screen-play writer, Stanley (Judd Nelson), who decides to act out his plot to give it more feeling.
The movie has an over all dark and somber feel, but at the same time is very beautiful; the underwater scenes are stunning and surreal.
Simple: I loved the movie Cabin by the Lake.
This is a wonderful TV movie and a great way to spend a couple of hours.
-  Yes, the plot is a little unrealistic- a writer doing some "research" for his horror film by actually drowning women and then writing about it.
If you like it, then I definitely recommend that you watch the sequel Return to Cabin by the Lake, which I thought was even better than the first film..
It seemed like a good thriller plot line, but throw in horrible direction, second-rate actors, and a crew that I wouldn't let film my kid's football game, and you get what we have here.
i never made a comment on a movie, this is the 1st and may be the last, this movie is awful, the writer ,the script and the director made this film for the goofy audience, i've seen many thrill movies , sometimes you are not thrilled that much and you get a little frustrated but this one makes you angry, goofy scenario.
I have always loved Judd Nelson and he can play the crazy guy with the best..
But i guess its one of the movies that you have to enjoy the physcological things to get it and to enjoy it.As for the second one, like most sequels, its not the best..
it seems (and i am watching it as i type this) in return to cabin by the lake, Stanley has lost some of his "vision" and it just more interested it getting revenge on the directors, producers, ect.
Most all tv movies are atrocious but this was the type that was good in a bad way.
Most movies will lay it on you in bits and pieces , this one just hammers you immediately then leaves you wondering whats going to happen next.The audio the video quality was outstanding for what looked like a lower budget film, but the full-screen only DVD bothered me.
(see link at bottom of review for direct Amazon page)Overall , Judd Nelson does a fantastic job as the main role, the plot wasn't all that thick and sometimes was predictable, but always kept you wondering "Are they next?".Movie Link : http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005RDAP/qid16506652/sr=8-1/refsr_8_67_1/002-2048647-8605661.
Judd Nelson's character was on the borderline of funny at the start of the movie, but then he became amazingly annoying!
Cabin by the lake was beyond phony, they may have had a few good dummies on the set, but the whole aura of the movie was fakes-ville.
His movie is about a guy who drowns girls in a lake and makes them a part of his "garden".
Judd Nelson does a good job of being really creepy, but the story is really unrealistic and pretty dumb.
I didn't find it boring at all, it didn't really drag on, it's flowed really well.As this was a TV movie, there wasn't any blood, w it's more about killer drowning his victims.The killer was creepy in one or two scene, some of the under water scene were tad intense at times.
But, at least, the movie is on national television and the scenes are relatively not as "scary" as many major box-office releases.(One thing which did surprise me is the language and sexual/sensual comments....there is hardly any, with the exception of a few words here and there.
This movie is not as vulgar as some of the sitcoms on primetime TV.)Second, about my likes, I was drawn to this movie because of the suspense, thrilling action, and mockery of its self as the screenwriter (Stanley) is writing a script for a movie with the same name.Another part that does have some "wicked" humor is the fact that Stanley is literally taking HIS JOB very SERIOUSLY.
(Is this guy a little loose in the head or what?)Finally, there is a little bit of concern I would like to share....were any of the actors/actresses injured in the production of the movie?
It is about a screenwriter who is pressured so much to get a script in, that he actually acts out the story.Judd Nelson gives a great performance as the crazed screenwriter.
This is a fun black comedy/horror film that I would recommend to anyone who likes to be scared and amused at the same time.This film was produced by the producer of the I Know What You Did Last Summer movie, and includes some of it's cliches, but is still very enjoyable.
A good movie overall, but some weak plot points.
A lot of times, I like made for tv movies that premiere on USA, TNT, etc, because they're not all about making tons of money at the box office.
I saw the movie the first airing, and I was looking forward to something really good.
What I got was a good movie with some very big plot holes.
If the writer would have thought of a better way to work out those two plot points, the movie would have been a great movie, instead of a good movie.
As for the film overall, I like the underwater scenes, but I wish we could have seen more kidnappings, instead of just the main one.
the actors besides Judd Nelson were horrible, no wonder they werent seen again.
i had exams today and got out of school early and there was nothing better on daytime TV so i watched this stupid movie...which wasn't that good except for this one song in it and for the life of me (irony) i cannot figure out what it is.....someone please help!!if u know it just e-mail me or something.....because i really want to know what it is.
Sometimes it's hard to separate the two.Judd Nelson is creepy as Stanley Caldwell, a screenwriter who acts out the role of a serial killer in his latest script in progress.
Hedy Burress is gutsy and alluring as Mallory McCall, a defiant victim whose good fortune derails Stanley's plans for her demise.The main thing that's lacking in this movie is edge-of-your-seat suspense.
A down on his luck screenwriter(Judd Nelson)becomes a serial killer in order to develop a character for a new script.
Clearly, the cast and crew were trying to make a good movie but failed.
this is an OK TV movie,i guess.i think it's supposed to be a black comedy.it had some ironic moments,to be sure.i did not find it scary in any way,so i don't think it could be called a horror movie.i did think the acting was pretty decent.i really liked the soundtrack.i thought it was very unique.i felt it fit nicely withe movie.i did expect the movie to be better than it was,so in that regard,i found it a disappointment.it's a decent diversion if you want to kill 90 minutes,though i wouldn't say it's a brilliant movie,by any stretch.it was nice to see Judd Nelson in a different kind of role.i think he pulled it off well.not once did i think of the 80's teen movie "The Breakfast Club" which i think Nelson is well known for.to me,that's a sign of a good actor.and like i said,the acting was decent all around.it was just the movie itself that didn't quite work for me.I'll give "Cabin by the Lake" 6/10* for the acting and the great music..
Stanley (Judd Nelson) is a crazy homicidal screenwriter who lives in a "Cabin by the Lake".
He kidnaps girls, keep them for a while (treating them like royalty) and than drowns them in the Lake.
He then keeps the bodies in his "garden" of sea weed and goes home to write his life like a horror movie.
But one day he picks the wrong girl (Hedy Burress) as a victim and his plans fall to pieces.I give it a 5.5 It was dull at moments, really cool at moments, entertaining at moments- all of this, but only at moments.I guess I'm just not a big fan of TV movies.
As I sit here watching Cabin by the Lake for the second time I thought I would add my comment.
It is definitely not a feel good movie -- more SciFi. Like my title says: it's watchable, and I do think that my second viewing will be my last!.
This movie makes no sense and the sequel was even worse.Judd Nelson plays this writer who, for inspiration, drowns young women, and makes a "garden" of women at the bottom of the lake.
Her and the police end up making a plot to capture Judd's character.
I thought Cabin By The Lake was an excellent movie.
I loved how Judd Nelson acted through the whole film, he did such a great job.
But it kept me watching, it kept my eyes focused, he was never hurt, he never died no matter what he had to be put through, even when everyone thought he had "drowned" , I did too, until I found out he was alright.I loved how at the very end, it kept me interested at what he was going to be up to next.
judd nelson's acting was terrific and he definitely played off that two sided character thing really well.
He kidnaps young women, drowns them, sinks them to the bottom of a lake, and tends to them like flowers, referring to them as his 'garden'.
Well acted, well scripted, and with a penchant for dark humour, this is one most horror fans will appreciate, even though the gore and violence is kept to a minimum.A good movie..
I do like Cabin by the Lake because the general storyline is actually pretty cool.
But I still like it (I think part of why I like it is because it takes me back to my senior year in high school!).The "writer acts out his story" thing has been done before, but not in this unique "garden" way.
Still, parts of the movie seem corny because characters try to make silly jokes or whatever - I would have much rather had it be more serious and delete the silly stuff.What you really have to see is "Return to Cabin by the Lake" (the sequel).
Judd Nelson has the perfect creepy guy personae for the serial killer in the movie.
So the basic premise of the movie is, Judd Nelson plays a screenplay writer who is writing this movie about girls that are drowned and then he tends to the garden of dead girls.
There is a little bit of everything in this movie, I think Judd Nelson's finest work..
A seemingly quiet writer working on a screenplay about a serial killer who kidnaps teenage girls, drowning them, and then visiting their dead bodies in his "Garden of flesh." Stanly's only problem is that he's developed writer's block and isn't sure how to add that certain touch of "realism" to his screenplay.
~Spoiler~Cabin by the Lake is an unusual TV movie that has an addictive quality to it due to the presence of Judd Nelson.
The film, Garden of Flesh, is about a stalker who drowns his victims and leaves their bodies lying at the bottom of a lake.
Cabin by the Lake is a great scary and funny movie.
A man who's a horror writer kidnaps good looking girls and drowns them in a lake and writes a movie based on his experiences with that.
This movie works as well as a comedy as a horror.
Go ahead and assume that any review above a 3 out of 10 for this movie will either be from cast and crew or from those horror types who enjoy it when it's so bad it's funny.
Here's a direct quote from one of those reviewers: "It's Like Silence of The Lambs...but Even More Creepy" Yeah, that's what that reviewer wrote, and in all seriousness as far as I can tell, so you've been warned.This movie is terrible.
I don't think I've ever seen as little effort put into catching a serial killer as appears in Cabin by the Lake.
An eerie idea and Judd's cool nostrils almost make this a nifty thriller/horror movie.
Hedy Buress (whom I like from Foxfire) is the one chick who gets away from Judd's silly serial killer/B-movie screenplay writer.
The creepy underwater "garden" is pretty cool (looks like a PJ Harvey video) but the rest is laughable.
Stanley is played with chilling skill by Judd Nelson whilst the heroine provides a good performance.
Cabin by the Lake starts in a cabin by a lake (funnily enough) owned by horror film writer Stanley Caldwell (Judd Nelson) who is under pressure from his agent Regan Kendrick (Susan Gibney) to deliver his latest script titled The Garden of Flesh.
It begins at a brisk pace but slows down, doesn't go anywhere & it goes on far what seemed like ages, the character's are somewhat annoying & no reasonable justification for what Stanley does is given & I'm not having the fact he needs to research a script as a believable reason for becoming a serial killer.
The acting was annoying from everyone, Nelson is utterly forgettable & has no screen presence, Gibney as Stanley's agent is embarrassing to watch as she overacts & the teenage cast are unlikable.Cabin by the Lake is an average film, it tries to mix horror, thriller & comedy but doesn't do a particularly great job.
If you must watch this movie, don't read on!The plot was not bad.
The murderer in this case is a screenwriter (Stanley Caldwell, played by Judd Nelson), being pressured by his agent and a director to complete a script about a man who drowns young girls and then uses their bodies to create an underground "garden."  To make the story more realistic, he engages in his own personal research - he actually does this to see how young girls react to being kidnaped and drowned!
This underage girl is miraculously rescued, only seconds from being drowned in this underwater garden of horror.
A horror screenplay writer, Stanley Kaldwell(Judd Nelson, perfectly cast), works on his scripts in a cabin near a lake on the outskirts of Los Angeles, actually committing the murders authored for films!
I have never seen such injustice as that put on film in "Cabin by the Lake." It truly depresses me to know that this was approved by an executive anywhere.I'd like to begin with Stanley.
Virtually every character in "Cabin by the Lake" is introduced almost without purpose.I know it's just a movie, but I find a lot of aspects hard to believe.
I suppose it's supposed to be part of the creepy aspect of the movie, but it sounds to me like a cheap way to keep the only character central to the pathetic plot on screen until the end.