“Consumed” begins with a promising premise teased with suspenseful outdoor threats and fractured marital bonds. Beth (Courtney Halverson) and Jay (Mark Famiglietti) are a couple with strained relationships that further escalate during a camping trip where dangers arise within and outside them. They face not only a deranged wilderness man (Devon Sawa) but possibly a flesh-eating monster too.
The film takes its audience on a 97-minute journey of interwoven marital issues and physical perils. Jay's obliviousness to Beth's feelings and her struggle as a breast cancer survivor aids in the mounting tension. This tale is centered around Beth's internal and external fight, where her partner Jay's lack of understanding only adds to the challenges she faces.
The film enhances its horror aspect when a hunter named Quinn, played by Sawa, enters the scene. He becomes the primary source of Beth's fear, overshadowing Jay. Quinn's character also brings in his own set of traumas, creating a smoke screen for Beth's path.
With the inclusion of Quinn, the movie becomes a survival narrative against an eerily implied threat, which occasionally manifests through creature effects. This shift in plot leaves a void around Jay's character, harbouring the focus on Beth and Quinn's tension-filled interactions. The endeavour falls flat due to unexplored emotions and a dialogue that seems more concerned with forwarding the plot.
There is a lack of depth in the dialogues that fail to effectively capture the emotional turmoil and challenges Beth faces. Some dialogues even undersell the tension of the monster attack scenes. The potential impact of powerful lines gets lost in the rushed storytelling and absence of a supportive context.
Towards the end, the film struggles to build up on the raw performances put forth by the cast, with ineffective dialogue and direction failing to support their efforts. There are sporadic thrilling moments throughout "Consumed", however, the overall execution of the movie falls short of its initial intriguing premise.
