The Butcher Brothers (Mitchell Altieri and Phil Flores) add to their horror output with “Consumed” a dual personality horror film. What or who is the real beast here?
Beth (Courtney Halverson) and her husband Jay (Mark Famiglietti) are hiking and camping the wilds of New Jersey ostensibly to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Beth being cancer free. Asleep in her tent Beth has flashes of fiery lava lights and being on a bed clothed in a hospital gown tethered down by straps with one of her breasts gushing blood. Understandable as no doubt some PTSD from her oncological battle?
Beth is noticeably weak and at points shaking walking on the trail.
As they hike they hear strange noises, screams, monstrous slurping and goo augment. They see a skinned and burnt bear carcass. Their tent is shredded and belongings scattered about and they flee being chased by the beast which is more light, smoke and noise than a physical beast. Quite frankly stock horror techniques.
Matters become interesting when they take refuge with mountain man Quinn (Devon Sawa) who is familiar with the beast that in addition to killing possesses the soul and bodies of the sick. Quinn lost his daughter to the beast. Quinn has his own gruesome agenda of feeding the beast with humans. But why?
Quinn asks Beth if she is sick and unbeknownst to her husband Jay her cancer has reoccurred. Beth is prime meat for possession by the beast. As she battles with Quinn in his attempt to use her as bait more flashbacks which again show her strapped on a bed but this time connected to medical equipment. Why all these “quasi-medical” flashbacks?
Beth is in a battle with the beast for her life. But the question to be asked who or what is this beast and are these experiences something more than the standard horror routine. Beth is having a near death horror experience with the beast which perhaps The Butcher Brothers have given a dual personality to. Is cancer the real beast?
Directed by Mitchell Altieri.
VOD/Digital release 20August2024.
RKS 2024 Rating: 90/100.
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