The Covenant – Review

Worth seeing: as a slow and deliberate fantasy that's not as scary or menacing as it needs to be.
Director:Renny Harlin
Featuring:Sebastian Stan, Steven Strait, Taylor Kitsch, Toby Hemingway, Chace Crawford, Jessica Lucas, Kyle Schmid, Laura Ramsey
Length:97 minutes
Certificate:12A
Country:US
Released:8th December 2006

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

This is the story of the Sons of Ipswich, four teenage students all with supernatural powers.

They are descendants of the original families who settled in the Ipswich Colony of Massachusetts in the 1600s.

When a fifth descendant suddenly arrives in town, all hell breaks loose.

The problem is that every time one of the teenagers uses his magical powers, he ages prematurely and like a drug it becomes addictive.

WHAT’S IT LIKE?

This is a twenty-first century version of The Lost Boys but without the bite or the supernatural edge.

Directed by Renny Harlin (Exorcist: the Beginning/The Long Kiss Goodnight), it’s very slow and deliberate and once the action finally kicks in, it’s not particularly mind blowing.

It’s an interesting idea but it doesn’t go anywhere and it’s neither terribly scary nor menacing.

Starring a virtually unknown cast, the five main actors are good looking, very fit and buffed up and difficult to tell apart except for the blonde one.

They all look mean and moody and full of teenage angst.

It’s beautifully shot and the special effects are okay but frankly, if you need to see it, wait for the DVD.