Lyla Digital Review

3 star ambitious and challenging thriller.

Lyla is a 2025 thriller film, a Tubi original which is pretty much a one man show from first time writer/director/cinematographer Gordon Cowie.

It is available on UK Digital PLatforms from 21st April 2025, courtesy of Miracle Media.

“Do you think you can make me happy? Get away from me you creep. I said leave me alone!”

As the film opens, we see a young boy, Hugh (Houston Towe – Animal Kingdom (TV Series)) playing with his toys as his mother (Honey Lauren – June and John) comes into the room with her suitcase, says goodbye and then kills herself right in front of him.

Jump forward 28 years and Hugh (Clark Moore – The Last Deal, Exceptional Beings) is now a grown man, sitting by himself in a diner. He’s approached by a mysterious man (Christopher Studenka – Run Rabbit) who seems to know far too much about him, chastises him for leaving his wife and child in the car and hands him a phone. Further on in his journey, he also encounters a mysterious woman (Chloe Farnworth – MaXXXine, Soy Nero), who seems to recognise him but then changes her mind.

Now we see the reason for this road trip, Hugh is an aspiring author who has rented a remote property for six weeks to get away from all the distractions in his life. To this end, he has taken with him his wife Lyla (Jolene Andersen – V/H/S/Beyond (segment Stork)) and young son Lars (Mason Wells – Violet, Possessions). They’ve just arrived and the bickering has already started. In comes Braxton (Aion Boyd – Downrange), the grounds keeper, here to sort the lease agreement.

This seems to make an already tense Hugh even more so and as the days pass he becomes more jealous and paranoid, as Lyla and Lars begin to fear for their safety. What is really going on here?

“I guess what I’m trying to say is, what’s an ex ballerina and her little boy going to do out in the woods all alone for six weeks?”

Lyla is certainly an interesting film and a good idea for a story. You are never really sure whereabouts you are in the storyline as the timeline is fragmented so that you see the events from all different stages.

While this sounds great, it feels like lots of disjointed scenes, which don’t really make sense until you sit down afterwards and try to piece it together, and a lot of people probably won’t have the patience to do that. I did find myself wanting them to get to some sort of point to make it feel worthwhile.  The soundtrack is also very distorted and tends to break the immersion rather than adding to the tension.

Where it does stand out is the acting which is excellent and the fantastic cinematography and use of the stunning locations. It won’t be for everyone, but if you’re up for an intriguing watch then this one might be for you.

“Things are going to change and it might be hard to remember. But I want you to remember, that everything I do, I do because I love you, okay?

Lyla is available now on UK Digital Platforms.