Support Us
Sign Up
Horror films set in the wilderness, where characters are camping, hiking, and exploring, often evoke a unique and ominous atmosphere. Take The Blair Witch Project, for example. Directors Eduardo Sánchez and Daniel Myrick masterfully tapped into our primal fears, as we followed a group of hikers who gradually lost their way in the forest and slowly descended into madness. In contrast, Consumed, directed by Mitchell Altieri and written by David Calbert, fails to evoke similar thrills. The newest horror film from Brainstorm Media and The Butcher Brothers, which attempts to blend creature features with a meditation on human mortality, ultimately falls flat, despite the earnest efforts of Courtney Halverson and Devon Sawa.
Consumed begins with Beth (Halverson) and Jay (Mark Famiglietti) enjoying a peaceful camping trip in the forest. However, Beth’s gloomy attitude stands in stark contrast to her husband’s calm and exciting demeanor. We soon learn that the woman, recently in remission from a terminal illness, is struggling with lingering physical and psychological scars from her past in the hospital. Despite her recovery, she’s haunted by disturbing visions that refuse to fade.
Even so, Beth tries her best to stay in the moment and enjoy the venture. Yet, their tranquility is soon shattered by a malevolent, mysterious monster, preying on them in the woods. As the pair attempts to escape from a skin-stealing entity, Beth and Jay encounter a vengeful madman (Sawa), adding another layer of danger. The couple must navigate the treacherous forest to not only survive the monster but the mysterious and increasingly aggressive man as well.
Consumed review 2024
While Consumed has intriguing components—a mysterious creature, a man driven by revenge, and Beth’s personal battles—the execution is disjointed. The film attempts to link these ideas but fails to provide a cohesive narrative. Beth’s backstory is only superficially explored, and her relationship with Jay feels forced and disconnected, almost as if Beth harbors resentment towards her husband and doesn’t actually want to spend time with him.
Despite decent direction, the script makes puzzling choices, especially in scenes of survival and escape. Consumed struggles to define its identity, wavering between a monster movie, a relationship drama, and a film about human fragility. Though these elements could potentially complement each other, they are presented in a way that feels disorganized rather than metaphorically intertwined.
The acting is the film’s redeeming quality. While Famiglietti occasionally comes across as flat, Halverson and Sawa deliver substantial performances, portraying characters grappling with deep pain, loss, and grief. Both Beth and Sawa’s characters relate to one another on a deeper level, which helps in the fight against the monstrous threat.
Ultimately, Consumed offers little to nothing that feels fresh or engaging as it adds to the horror genre. With the film’s stilted dialogues, tangled narrative, and characters making questionable decisions, it’s a film that quickly fades from one’s memory.
Grade: C
Consumed will premiere on August 16th in theaters and on demand.
Consumed
Married couple Jay and Beth take a celebratory camping trip a year after Beth's cancer remission but find themselves trapped between a wild madman and a skin-stealing monster.
Release Date: August 16, 2024
Director: Mitchell Altieri
Cast: Mark Famiglietti , Courtney Halverson , Devon Sawa
