Consecration showcases the fantastic visual talents of director Christopher Smith, but what could be a solid horror-thriller is hindered by a script that is purposefully meandering and disjointed. It’s worth watching. However, you just wish it could have been better.

After the suspicious death of her brother, a priest, Grace (Jena Malone), goes to the Mount Saviour Convent in Scotland to find out the truth of what happened. Once there, she uncovers murder, sacrilege and a disturbing truth about her own past.

Consecration moves along at a decent albeit disjointed pace. Still, it is hindered by a script that is more concerned with revelling in mystery than actually building any reasonable suspense. We should be on the edge of our seats as we worry about what the convent has planned for Grace, yet we are given vague moments of ominousness instead. The reason for this is sadly simple. There is just far too much going on to be fully fleshed out in an 85-minute film.

There are hints at what the story could be if it ran longer or if we were given more time with the characters. The potential is there, but truncating it to what we get stops all momentum in its tracks. It’s a shame, as there is so much to like about it that you can’t help but be disappointed with the final overall outcome.

Having the film constantly evolve and then having to almost explain why it has done so hurts the entire flow of Consecration. You get that Smith wants us to be off balance and never entirely sure of what is going on until he reveals it all in the final act. By muddling the waters of his story, you are left not confused but close to apathetic towards it all.

Instead of keeping the story simple, there is an attempt to complicate matters that never needed it, which is a shame, as you are invested in where Smith takes the film, especially with the smart visual moments spotted throughout. Yet, by trying to make it something more and throwing the hammer at the audience in the final act, Smith seems intent on stopping the film dead and giving us needless little nudges during a few moments here and there, which will be important in the last act.

This is made worse when you consider the writing of Grace. Aside from Grace’s opening scene with her patient, where she learns that she had a somewhat rough childhood, there isn’t a reason to like her. She is immediately disrespectful to all facets of religion (though that revelation is given to us in the last act). She makes bewildering choices, such as simply not leaving the convent after her possible fall or collapse. Loose ends remain loose ends with her, making everything her character does feel quite forced.

None of which is Jena Malone’s fault either. She gives a lot in her performance as Grace, and she does well with her English accent (the wig is a different story, however). In the moments that we care for Grace, that is more down to her performance than the writing of the character, as it cannot be overstated how hampered the character is by the script. The rest of the cast provides good backing to Malone. Still, they are paper thin and again, there is only so much you can do when you cast Danny Huston in a horror/thriller and not expect his character to betray the lead in some form.

Visually, you cannot fault Consecration, it has all the right ingredients in place. The clever ways in which Smith tries to move the intrigue a long as well as how fantastic the Isle of Skye looks throughout. He has you wanting to visit the location due to its rough beauty while also reminding us of how gorgeously atmospheric such a rugged place it is. Even when we are inside the church, its all so haunting and gorgeous that you begin to fall into the world he has created. It is sadly, just that script doesn’t take advantage or match the shadows and potential scares such locations afford films like this.

Consecration is a visually appealing film featuring some strong performances from the cast. However, the script is too clever for its own good, stopping the audience from fully enjoying the mystery by not engaging them enough and leaving them frustrated with the possibilities and potential it had.

★★ 1/2

Consecration will be available on Digital Download from 16th June.

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