'Consumed' Reviews: "With its rich emotional core and examination of human frailty, Consumed makes for a tasty treat - and just might scare you away from ever going camping again."

         On August 16, 2024, Brainstorm Media released 'Consumed', which has been panned by the critics, currently holding at 14% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the film a couple is caught between a rock and a hard place as they are pursued by an evil man and a monster in the woods. The ensemble cast includes Devon Sawa, Courtney Halverson, and Mark Famiglietti. But what did the critics have to say?

        Simon Abrams of RogerEbert.com notes, "It’s always hard to know why on-camera performances don’t play well off of each other, especially when their characters are at cross purposes with each other. Based on what’s on-screen, both “Consumed”’s dialogue and the direction fail to expand on the movie’s distinguishing concern with Beth’s emotional turmoil. Too much conversation weakens the impact of the monster attack scenes that will presumably hook most viewers in the first place. Some pseudo-folksy dialogue also rolls off of Sawa’s tongue like a wad of sandpaper, like when he clocks Beth’s post-cancer infirmity: “You’re sick, ain’t you?” That sort of line needs a bit more context to land properly, and “Consumed” doesn’t have nearly enough padding to make it stick." Adding, "A sense of rhythm or frustrated chemistry might have made a difference in “Consumed,” at least enough to stick to the movie’s by-the-numbers conclusion. Unfortunately, clumsy and mostly inert dialogue often pre-emptively steps on Beth and Quinn’s actions, making it even harder to anticipate whatever comes next. It’s also hard to shake the feeling that we’re watching inexperienced or simply ungrounded performers struggling to enhance threadbare material. Some exciting moments are scattered throughout “Consumed,” but they’re never as compelling as the movie’s initial promise. "

        Bee Delores of Horrorverse praises the film, stating, "With its rich emotional core and examination of human frailty, Consumed makes for a tasty treat - and just might scare you away from ever going camping again."

        Aaron Murray of Loud and Clear Reviews says, "Sure, there’s not a lot you can particularly do when all you have surrounding you are trees, but man, it’s just hard to muster up any interest in what ultimately amounts to a whole lot of standing around waiting for something scary to happen."

         Zofia Wijaszka of Nerdspin writes, "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." Adding, "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."

Photo by John Jackson on Unsplash