It was interesting, but I feel like it played it's hand too early. Yes, there were 
two plot twists
. However, I feel like the buildup should've been longer. Instead of Aiden immediately saying "do u think we died from the gas" and then "WE MUST'VE DIED AND WE R NOW IN PURGATORY!!!11",
it should've been way more subtle. It should've let the viewer come to that conclusion, then reveal the truth
later on. Regardless, even the reveal
was lackluster. If it had began with the shot of Richard looking at the doll house
then it would've had a lot more impact than the shot of the harness and speakers. Instead of a shocked "WHAT? No way!!", it was more like "Oh...so it was the kids all along? Huh.".
Although, truth be told, the twist wasn't that well hidden. Aiden's behaviour and lines were strange, especially when compared to how he was before. Him readily agreeing to them staying with Grace for Christmas was bizarre enough, especially considering that he had just
A. Said "fuck you" to his dad after his dad suggested the whole "staying at the lodge" thing
and
B. They had literally just discovered that Grace was heavily involved with a suicide cult in her youth.
But yes, let's stay with her for Christmas. Alone. That'll be fun.
Then you have him handing her the mug (especially when he was being so polite about it), his eagerness to use the gas heater, him not immediately denying taking anything (even in the kitchen when she asks him right to his face, he still doesn't say anything, nor does Mia), and then how he kept telling her to repent and to "confess". It wasn't exactly subtle.
The only thing that really threw me off was the dog vanishing and her looping back to the lodge. If it wasn't for those two, then I would've definitely believed that the kids were completely behind it...so maybe it wasn't really the reveal that was the issue.
Also, was I supposed to feel sorry for the kids
? Because I didn't. I felt sorry for Grace
, and for Richard (although slightly less so, as he was an idiot. Who leaves their children alone with someone they never met, especially considering her history? Why didn't he postpone the wedding instead of dropping the announcement on the kids right before Christmas? Why did he point the gun at his head instead of literally anywhere else? Don't assume it's empty, man. Jeez.
.
As far as I'm concerned, the sociopathic kids got what they deserved. There is absolutely no excuse for what they did, and this is coming from an orphan who lost his mother to suicide. They were absolute monsters.
Good riddance.
