Movie Review: The Covenant

This could just as easily have been called Supernatural 90210. If your thing is watching twenty-somethings playing high school kids, walking around with an air of self importance while ultimately doing nothing, then this is the movie for you. I went in with low expectations, and even they were not met.

The Covenant opens with an explanation that doesn't explain anything. I knew this was a bad sign. When a movie has a text opening that speaks of ancient power of unknown origins, you must have a clue that you are about to witness a bad movie. I mean, come on, make something up — you did for the rest of the movie, please feel free to fill in the holes, not dig them.

The story concerns a group of five families that came to America to escape the persecution of witches, and were among the founders of Ipswich. One of the families was thought to have been killed off during the Salem Witch Hunts. Fast forward to the present day, the sons of the remaining four families are the coolest kids in school, anybody who is anybody wants to be friends with them. Well, they show up at the summer blow-off party before school starts, and in the span of five minutes, woo the new girl on campus, meet the new guy on campus, and lead the police on a high speed off-road chase off a cliff.

The story moves along, going nowhere, not really revealing anything. It eventually comes out that the new guy is the long-lost fifth son of Ipswich, returning to take everyone's power for himself. That pretty much somes it up.

The Covenant is filled with silly posturing and a faux goth edge. The approach to the material and the way it plays out would have been much better suited to a television series. For as much information that is shared, it would have made a fine pilot. There is enough potential in this to last a few seasons; instead we get a mashed up film plot that goes nowhere.

Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. Visit: Critical Outcast. …

Visit Chris Beaumont's author page — Chris Beaumont's Blog