Finding strength when you feel most afraid isn’t easy, but that’s exactly what Beth endeavors to do in the new wilderness thriller Consumed. Directed by Mitchell Altieri from a script by David Calbert, the film tells the story of Beth and her husband Jay hiking through dense forest to celebrate her cancer going into remission. Their trip takes a dark turn though when something monstrous lurks in the trees, putting their lives at risk.
We meet Beth struggling to reclaim her sense of vitality after intensive medical treatment left her weakened. She pushes onward despite her fatigue, determined to make the most of this second chance. But the deep scars of her illness remain, manifesting as nightmares of claws tearing into her chest. When strange events in the woods threaten to cut short their escape from reality, Beth must dig deep within to find reserves of bravery she didn’t know she had.
Through solid performances and creative creature design, Consumed spins an unsettling yarn of coping with trauma, both physical and mental. While not breaking new ground, fans of Shivery survival tales should find this one delivers the frights.
Facing Fear in the Flesh
At the center of Consumed’s eerie woods are three characters confronting personal demons as much as any monster. Beth, still wrestling with her cancer’s legacy, drives deep into the forest, seeking clarity after emerging from illness’s shadow. Her husband Jay trails alongside, well-meaning but unable to truly grasp her ordeal. Into this strained setting crashes Quinn, a wild-eyed hermit nursing wounds of his own.
Courtney Halverson brings to Beth a vulnerability matched by quiet resolve. Nearly broken by medical trauma, she craves reconnection with life’s beauty yet finds only nightmarish visions awaiting in sleep. Halverson brings nuance to a resilience tested by darkness without and within. Where Jay sees victory, she knows survival demands constant vigilance.
As Jay, Mark Famiglietti aims to rekindle fading flames of romance, blind to why the simple things feel anything but to Beth. Famiglietti plays Jay’s fumbling care with earnestness, never malicious but wholly unprepared for the evils haunting his partner. His role dims as others rise, but he provides a compassionate counterpoint to the horror unfolding.
Then comes Devon Sawa’s mysterious Quinn, threading the line between protector and predator. The scars of his missing daughter shape a code of bloody justice in a world unworthy of mercy. Sawa steals scenes with a coiled intensity, by turns lending guidance and exposing fresh fears. His character flirts with madness yet stays coherent, understanding terror in a way the others can’t.
Together, this trio navigates terrors beyond any monster. Their personal puzzles remain elusive till Consumed’s end, but the humanity of their struggles anchors the supernatural stakes. While lightweight on plot twists, the film succeeds in cultivating an unsettling atmosphere through fragile people confronting trauma’s many forms in the flesh.
Immersing in Dread
Consumed wastes little time placing viewers amid dense woods, the perfect cradle for creeping horror. Director Mitchell Altieri transports us to a forest primeval, where aged pines soar and shadows lurk between every trunk. Cinematographer M.I. Littin Menz gifts each mossy glen and gnarled branches an ethereal glow, blessing strolling couples with beauty yet hinting of looming eyes below.
Tension knots as Beth and Jay venture further from camp, isolation embracing them in nature’s dark embrace. Unseen noises whisper unseen threats; Coyote howls a cold refrain that chills the blood. Yet music swells at just the right moments, buoying hopes soon distressed by remnants left for our protagonists—scrawls on trees and grisly altars that hint at watchers whose designs remain veiled.
Reveals arrive strategic as the monster itself, glimpsed at corners of frame through concealing mists. Raw fingers rake in final moments yet flee before revealing full horror, claws that flay and feast kept phantom to the last. Sound design aids the tease, glimpses accompanied by pants and skitters that force imagination to places visuals fear to tread.
Altieri understands dread thrives in shadows and gaps where minds fill scarier things than any prosthetic. His forest proves a masterful co-star, breathtaking backdrop lending Consumed’s slow burn of unease every effective frame. Within such a rich environment enveloping vulnerable souls, only terrors might flourish—and do.
Facing Inner Demons
Consumed delves into heavy themes of trauma, grief, and illness. For Beth, still haunted by her battle with cancer, the monster comes to represent her lingering fears of the disease returning. Her nightmares of claws opening her chest make this internal struggle terrifyingly literal.
Beth’s trauma is unpacked through her fraught relationship with Jay, who struggles to understand her ordeal. His attempts to boost her spirits come across as dismissive, revealing how cancer impacts loved ones too. Their crumbling marriage shows how suffering fractures even those closest to us.
Quinn adds another layer of grief. His daughter’s death at the creature’s hands drove him to seclusion in the woods. He channels his pain into an obsessed hunt, putting both revenge and care for others aside. Through Quinn, we see how some allow trauma to consume their humanity.
The film poses thought-provoking links between these characters’ afflictions and the predations of the monster, which seems drawn to the sick and sorrowful. But it only scratches the surface of such rich themes. While crafted with care, the exploration feels restrained by cliches at times.
More psychological depth could have amplified the tensions already present—between Beth and her dark visions or Quinn and his simmering rage. So Consumed hints at complexity but prefers a straightforward thriller approach over real profundity. Even so, its focus on emotional scars gives this creepy flick resonance beyond mere shocks.
Face Your Fears
Consumed saves most of its creature reveals for maximum impact. We first encounter the monster through Beth’s nightmares, glimpsing taloned fingers ripping into flesh. In the forest, it leaves skinned animals and slimy residue, playing on viewers’ imaginations.
The creature prefers to stalk in a billowing black cloud, glimpsed only in shadows. While not visually complex, this distant view builds intrigue. We want to understand this unseen threat. Slowly, we learn of a Wendigo legend come to life, preying on the distressed.
The practical effects wow whenever revealed. Beth discovers masks of contorted skin drying on trees, evoking raw horror. Glimpses of the Wendigo, all gnarled bone and papery skin, stick with you far more than any digital creation. Its lanky fingers probing Beth’s wound are a standout, voyeuristically uncomfortable.
CGI fills in when close-ups aren’t possible, though sometimes misses the visceral punch. The climactic battle balances this well, showcasing both a prosthetic maw and realistic motion. We feel every snap of its jaws closing around flesh.
While not hugely gory, Consumed knows a little goes a long way. It plays on our fears of injury and infirmity, injecting disturbing notions into tranquil settings. The creature amplifies Beth’s trauma into something inescapably physical. Its designs terrify through suggestion and judicious revelation, facing us with manifestations of terror we’d rather not see.
Consumed: A Rushed Denouement
The story follows Beth and Jay into the woods, where haunting visions and skin-stealing monsters lurk. We’re drawn in by their dilemna and mysterious forces at play.
Early scenes build intrigue well. Beth struggles with cancer fears amid their idyllic getaway turned grisly. Strange occurrences and tension as her illness echoes the creature’s apparent taste for the afflicted.
Quinn’s introduction further complicates matters. His taciturn manner conceals darker motives that come to light. Devon Sawa engages as this unpredictable wild card who blurs the line between helper and hindrance.
Pacing excels until the climactic reveal. We sojourn with Beth and Quinn as they uncover the Wendigo legend-made flesh. Practical effects stun in glimpses of its distorted anatomy. Seeing finally pays off built-up intrigue.
Unfortunately, resolution comes too quickly after this. The Wendigo battle passes in a blur after such a build. While visceral bursts punctuate the fray, more could’ve prolonged satisfaction.
Character arcs also feel rushed. Beth barely emerges changed from her ordeal. Jay lacks depth despite being her throughline. Their relationship’s resolution leaves questions.
With time, these shortcomings could’ve been remedied. Tying character threads more tightly to the creature mythology may have lent greater heft. As is, Consumed tantalizes but concludes before fully repaying its suspenseful setup.
Potential for chills and social insight goes partly unfulfilled due to hasty story beats in the last act. With refinement, this creepy fable could’ve burrowed deeper under viewers’ skin.
Consumed: A Flicker of promise in the Woods
Consumed shows flashes of potential but ultimately gets lost in its own forest. The setup and core components are there—a creeping monster, an isolated setting, troubled characters facing inner demons. These allow glimmers of chill to permeate the air.
Early scenes do an effective job setting an unnerving tone. Beth’s cancer-related trauma feels real, giving her anguish weight. The mystery of their stalker maintains an ominous aura, especially when revealed through gruesome props. Even Quinn brings an unpredictable edge that holds interest.
It’s a shame then that the presentation stray from this promising path. Once revelations start, suspense deflates where it should mount. The interpersonal drama too often overrides scare factors. Characterizations remain surface-level where depth could engross.
Not all is bleak; the finale regains momentum with unsettling creature encounters. But by then the focus has shifted from survival terror to action climax. These closing touches arrive too late to save a film that loses its gripping grasp.
As a creature feature, Consumed possesses the trappings but not full command of the genre. With refinement, this tale of vulnerability in the vast natural order could unsettle. As is, it offers flickers of fright that fade into the murk. For devoted fans of the format, an intriguing watch—others may find its atmosphere too anemic to fully draw them in. Overall, it leaves a feeling of missed opportunities among emerald boughs.
The Review
Consumed
Consumed shows flashes of chilling potential with its unnerving setup and prosthetic-enhanced creature work. However, muddled characterizations and a loss of pace prevent it from truly sinking its teeth into viewers. While devoted genre fans may find flickers of fright, others are unlikely to feel fully consumed.
PROS
- Unsettling setup and premise involving cancer trauma and stalking monster
- Imaginative design work for gory prosthetic horror scenes
- Isolated forest setting builds claustrophobic atmosphere
CONS
- Shallow characterizations lack nuance to engage viewers.
- Intriguing mystery falls flat in revelations that deflate tension.
- Uneven pacing saps momentum from fright elements.
- Overly-clinical dialogue distances from raw emotions
