When I Consume You (2021) by Perry Blackshear

Director: Perry Blackshear

Year: 2021

Country: USA

Alternate Titles: N/A

Genre: Supernatural Slasher

Plot:

Following a series of strange encounters, a brother and sister find their troubled lives growing up have come back to haunt them as adults when the stalker confronting them is revealed to be the cause of the chaos in their lives all along and must find a way to stop it from spelling their downfall.

Review:

This was a troubling if still enjoyable enough genre effort. One of the major likable factors here comes from the strong characterization that takes place between the two here. We spend a vast majority of the film with the two of them on-screen either detailing how their lives have been affected to the point it is at as where this finds them at the start is quite enjoyable. Seeing their relationship at this point in their lives is a bit of a sympathizing factor as their desire to remain a stabilizing force for each other in the wake of their history growing up makes for a strong drama-heavy feel that makes the later attacks by the creature feel all the more impactful with the struggles that take place to undermine his sanity.

However, that doesn't always make for an interesting time as the majority of the film, focusing on these interactions between the two, leaves this feeling incredibly bland at times. Featuring more close-quarters conversations and quiet, reflective moments between them than anything else that really feels quite low-key than anything else despite several genuinely creepy encounters with the stalker following them, there's not much to go on here beyond the more prominent aspects here integrating a storyline about trauma and personal growth. That's not a bad thing in the slightest, but it's also not something everyone will be intrigued by and looking for in their films.

Overview: **/5

Fine enough for what it's trying to be, there are some likable factors here that hold this one up although some might end up finding the flaws here to be detrimental and crippling. This is easily recommended more to fans of this kind of high-concept symbolism-heavy style or fans of the creative crew, while those looking for more of a fun genre effort will want to heed caution on this one.