The Caretaker is a British independent psychological horror thriller produced by Landa Pictures. The film is written and directed by Luke Tedder and stars Ben Probert in the lead role of Eddie Hartwood.
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Synopsis
The Caretaker is a character-driven horror-thriller set at Lockbridge Academy, an isolated school on the coast, run by the powerful aristocratic Aberdeen family. Eddie is a mute, burdened with caring for his cruel ailing mother. While on the cusp of losing his home, he takes a caretaker position at Lockbridge. There, he meets a cleaner named Marie, sparking a connection that will alter the trajectory of his life, while unraveling a sinister mystery lurking within the school, that could shatter the Aberdeen's family legacy forever.
Cast
Ben Probert as Eddie Hartwood
Mackenzie Larsen as Marie
Scott Hume as Charles Aberdeen III
P G Pearson as Charles Aberdeen II
Lauren Shotton as Lisa Aberdeen
Chris McQuire as George Wallace
Livvy Dawson as Holly Mansford
Liz Rogers, Dave Morris, Emma Graveling, Noah Carr-Kingsnorth, Hector Baldwin, Heather Cairnes and Alice Corrigan also feature in supporting roles.
Production
The film was shot by Landa Pictures with Luke Tedder both directing and writing.
Release
The film debuted in 2025 at several international festivals, including the Fortean Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim for Probert's nuanced nonverbal performance and cinematic storytelling. It went on to win over twenty international film awards on the festival circuit.
Scheduled at FrightFest 2025 on August 23, 2025, at the Odeon Luxe in the West End of London as part of the United Kingdom genre festival's main showcase.
Rights for the United Kingdom and Ireland theatrical and VOD distribution have been secured by Ajamax Productions, scheduled for a theatrical release in February 2026.
Reception
Vocal Media commented that the film has "big‑budget vibes" and an "impeccable" lead performance.