The Cut

In Dotson’s disjointed debut, young widow Sadie Miles flees her abusive new husband, Samuel Keller, with her toddler, Izzy. An unexpected pregnancy and a lack of other options compel Sadie to accept a job as a housekeeper at the Hotel L’Arpin, an antiquated bed and breakfast in rural Ohio. At first the hotel seems like a refuge, but soon guests start disappearing and Sadie becomes convinced she can see tentacled monsters in the water from the hotel’s faucets. Is this mere paranoid delusion, or is the hotel covering up something supernaturally sinister? The narrative is at its strongest when focused on Sadie’s inner life. Her perspective is nuanced, and her struggle to care for her daughter and find safety for them both resonates, making it easy to root for this small family as they navigate the creeping dangers at Hotel L’Arpin. Unfortunately, by comparison, the supernatural elements feel sketchy and shoehorned in, leading to an unsatisfying and predictable finale. Dotson does praiseworthy work crafting a unique horror protagonist, but the scares themselves fall flat. Agent: Chris Bucci, Aevitas Creative Management. (Apr.)