Seth (Adam Weppler) is down on his luck and looking to start a business. So, when he gets an invitation from somebody he doesn’t know, to go to a mansion he’s never been to before, he sees no reason not to go. This was his first mistake. When he gets there, Seth is greeted by Richard (Nicholas Tucci) who proudly tells him that he is his half-brother and welcomes him into his home.

Richard is a man with an obscene wealth and a very blunt, straightforward manner. So, when he tells Seth that he knows everything there is to know about him and wants to do what he can to make him feel comfortable, Seth unquestioningly settles down and looks forward to a relaxing weekend. The trouble is that Richard has a rather unsettling way about him, and when the mind games start and Seth meets Richard’s alluring girlfriend, Abby (Catherine Corcoran), his time with his long-lost brother is going to get a lot more complicated.

Long Lost is a psychological thriller in a compact setting, with a small cast and an ambitious idea. Over the course of the weekend, Seth is confronted by many things; his brother’s erratic behaviour, his growing attraction to Abby and the sense that he has no idea what is going on as the tensions heighten in the house. However, Seth isn’t the only one that doesn’t know what’s going on, because along with a lack of structure and character motivation (other than money) the audience may start to feel as confused and frustrated as Seth.

The cast all do a fine job and as Seth’s position in the household gets more complicated, Weppler manages to keep the level of anxiety in a realistic space as the events of the film get more and more bizarre. However, the best part undoubtedly goes to Tucci who revels in the role as the eccentric millionaire who gives his character an intimidating, erratic and often hilarious nature as his penchant for gambling and competing with his little half-brother gets increasingly ridiculous.

Evoking Ex Machina, Long Lost had a promising start which for the most part is well thought out, giving the audience something to mull over while the somewhat slow pacing tells the audience that not everything may be as it seems. However, it’s a shame that it’s final twenty minutes are not quite as strong, and the big twist is revealed as to what is really going on with Richard, and how much danger Seth is really in.

Ultimately though, after all of the film’s good work setting the characters in place, the film leaves the audience feeling unsatisfied as it ends on a note that thinks it’s cleverer than it actually is. The intentions were clear and the script, its setting and the characters were all clearly showing potential of something much deeper, but in the end it’s sad to say that Long Lost must have got lost whilst trying to think of an ending that was both unique and well earned.

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