Also, while Vikander is excellent, Lara’s emotional arc—grief turning into acceptance—feels rushed. One key monologue about “choosing to be the door, not the key” lands awkwardly.
In the latest chapter of the rebooted Tomb Raider saga, Lara Croft in The Gatekeeper attempts to blend the gritty, survivalist tone of the 2018 film with high-concept supernatural horror. Directed by Misha Green (known for Lovecraft Country ), this standalone adventure pits a more seasoned Lara against an ancient order protecting a dimensional threshold known as “The Gate.”
Streaming now on Paramount+ (hypothetically). lara croft in the gatekeeper
Green excels at dread. The monastery breathes—stone corridors shift when you’re not looking, and the sound design (footsteps echoing into impossible distances) is masterful. Lara (Alicia Vikander, fully committed) is no longer the frightened survivor; she’s a weary archaeologist with a moral code. One standout sequence sees her traverse a collapsing hall of mirrors while the Gatekeeper whispers her dead father’s voice—genuinely unnerving.
The creature design for the Gatekeeper is inspired: a silent, tall humanoid whose face is a vertical slit of static. It doesn’t chase—it waits , forcing Lara to outthink it rather than outrun it. Directed by Misha Green (known for Lovecraft Country
The film’s first hour is a tight, claustrophobic puzzle-box thriller. The final act, however, becomes overstuffed. The explanation of “anti-memory” relies on dense exposition delivered via holographic recordings (a tired trope). Some may love the cosmic-horror turn; others will miss the simpler tombs of Tomb Raider (2018).
The mirror corridor sequence. The final 10 minutes (stay through the silent credits for a chilling audio cue). Skip it if: You dislike slow-burn horror or metaphysical endings. Lara (Alicia Vikander, fully committed) is no longer
Lara Croft in The Gatekeeper is a brave, uneven hybrid of Indiana Jones and A24 horror . It lacks the explosive action of blockbuster reboots but delivers genuine intelligence and atmosphere. Hardcore fans of classic Lara (dual pistols, acrobatic kills) may feel underserved. But if you want a thoughtful, spooky, puzzle-driven one-off where Lara’s greatest weapon is her mind, step through the Gate.