The Big Picture Consumed is a wilderness creature feature of a different flavor, so that’s nice. It doesn’t care to hide its hand, which is a r
The Big Picture
- Consumed is a wilderness creature feature of a different flavor, so that’s nice.
- It doesn’t care to hide its hand, which is a relief at points, but also makes the film easily readable.
- The main cast is solid, but the material leaves us wanting more.
What Is ‘Consumed’ About?
Jay (Mark Famiglietti) and Beth (Courtney Halverson) are partners celebrating Beth’s first cancer-free year by hiking and camping, reliving their outdoorsy honeymoon phase. Beth’s weaker than she was after intensive treatments but insists they push forward, traversing rocky uphills to lock another core memory. Despite minor arguments, Beth puts on a happy face during the day — but while Jay’s asleep, she’s distracted by nightmares of foot-long claws ripping open a chest wound where doctors removed cancerous cells. Things get worse when Jay and Beth leave their tent in pitch blackness, only to return to shredded polyester and a slimy substance covering their belongings. The lovers sprint toward safety, however many miles away, until Jay steps into a bear trap, and that’s when they meet Quinn, Devon Sawa’s reclusive trapper.
Consumption comprises the thematic weight of Consumed, every character emotionally paralyzed by something. Beth cannot escape fears of her cancer’s return. Jay’s stuck on rebooting their romance, and their bond is tested by the terrors they face in the woods.
Consumed is an underwhelming Wendigo tale that is always a few inches from “getting there,” but never takes the leap. Altieri and Calbert confront life’s cruelty through a genre lens, ending somewhere hopeful as Beth battles against an entity that could end her pain with a snap. Still, it’s a generic blend of human drama and otherworldly horrors. Consumed never makes the most of its Wendigo punctuations, whether hampered by budgetary limits or to-the-point scripting that overstays its welcome at nearly 90 minutes. Something like Bryan Bertino’s The Monster exemplifies how to stretch by-the-books themes into a chilling feature-length duration. Altieri tries his best, yet without anything special regarding effects or memorably horrific accents, his genre remix on existential dread loses the thrill of the chase.
Consumed is now available to stream on VOD in the U.S.
Conclusion
Consumed is a film that struggles to find its footing, despite a strong cast and an intriguing premise. The material is underwhelming, and the film fails to deliver on its promise of tense, thrilling horror. While it has some standout moments, the overall experience is disappointing.
FAQs
Q: What is the main plot of Consumed?
A: The film follows a couple, Jay and Beth, as they go on a camping trip to celebrate Beth’s first cancer-free year. However, their trip takes a dark turn when they encounter a Wendigo, a mythical creature that feeds on human flesh.
Q: Who stars in Consumed?
A: The film features a talented cast, including Mark Famiglietti, Courtney Halverson, and Devon Sawa.
Q: Is Consumed available to stream?
A: Yes, Consumed is currently available to stream on VOD in the U.S.
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