Consumed – Movie Review (3/5)

CONSUMED (2024) is a new creature feature from The Butcher Brothers. It begins and ends on high notes, but there is a weak spot in between. Still, it is worth checking out and has solid special effects. Read our full Consumed movie review here!

CONSUMED (2024) has a small cast and a simple plot that plays out in the woods. It’s a creature feature with impressive special effects that include both practical and CGI, but in a good balance. The movie comes from The Butcher Brothers which should make many genre fans curious.

I did find it to have a lull in the final half, which is a real shame because it was very strong during the first half. Fortunately, it does get back on track, which results in a strong ending as well. The runtime is around 90 minutes (1 hour and 29 minutes, officially), which also works to its advantage.

Continue reading our Consumed movie review below. Find it in theaters and On Demand from August 16, 2024.

There’s something in the woods…

In Consumed, we meet a young married couple out on a camping trip. They are out hiking to celebrate that her cancer has been in remission for a year. Beth (Courtney Halverson) is trying to push herself while her husband Jay (Mark Famiglietti) is clearly worried and wants her to slow down.

She wants to keep pushing on, even when her strength isn’t quite there, so he supports her and does everything he can to help. Unfortunately, something is lurking in the woods, and he can’t do much when it comes to this creature.

We’re talking about a skin-stealing monster which may be the infamous Wendigo. While battling this monster, they also come across a madman (Devon Sawa) who is seeking revenge.

The married couple will need to muster up all their strength to fight the skin-stealing monster and make it out of the woods alive. With a cast of three characters and a setting in a forest in the mountains, it does get quite claustrophobic.

It is an intense and efficient horror-thriller that could easily have gotten a higher rating from us if it had managed to stay on track from beginning to end.

Watch Consumed in Theaters or On Demand

The Butcher Brothers are behind this new horror thriller with director/producer Mitchell Altieri and producer Phil Flores at the helm. The screenplay comes from David Calbert who previously wrote and directed the short film Cold Comfort (2016). This is his feature film debut as a screenwriter.

As a director, you may know Mitchell Altieri and his “co-butcher brother” Phil Flores via their horror movies The Hamiltons (2006) or Raised by Wolves (2014).

Consumed has a lot going for it. This movie has a very strong and emotional beginning, is quick to move into horror territory, and then keeps going on a strong path. For the most part. There is that one part of this movie where I felt myself lose interest and my thoughts started wandering before the film picked up again.

The ending is efficient though, so it manages to end on a high note. Be sure to check it out and enjoy those delicious gooey practical effects as well as the CGI. The latter is well-made and used only when necessary.

Consumed (2024) is out In Theaters and On Demand from August 16, 2024.

Details

Director: Mitchell Altieri
Writer: David Calbert
Cast: Courtney Halverson, Mark Famiglietti, Devon Sawa