The Covenant (www.the-usher.com)

"The power consumes you"

Since the dawn of time, before even the Book of Damnation, the Power has flowed and those who had the ability to wield it were known as witches and warlocks. As their pagan ways became more and more persecuted, they fled Europe and headed to America and settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Centuries later four of the five main families remain and their eldest sons are about to come into the age of ascension, which will endow them with unbelievable power. But that power comes at a cost.

Magic has returned to the cinema in a big way but can teens with the 'power' trick you into thinking this movie good?

'Harry Potter', 'The Lord of the Rings' and on the small screen 'Buffy' and 'Charmed', magic is back and more popular than ever. Magicians, witches, warlocks, wizards and conjurers are box office and televisual gold, so there was bound to be some films that would jump on the bandwagon. This doesn't mean to say that all of them would be bad but the one definitely is.

The premise for the movie is good. Since the beginning of time, a power has existed that one the few can weald. Through the ages, those who have this power have been persecuted and burnt at the stake at witches and warlock, forcing them to flee to the New World. Five families settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts, over the centuries one died out and the final four closed ranks and kept the power to themselves. The power is can be all consuming however and it comes with a price. If you use it, it removes time from you life and ages you quicker. This sounds good but it is so poorly executed.

This is simply just another teen horror movie but instead of blood and guts we have magic. The film tries to be creepy and haunting but just becomes an amalgamation of many other films that have been before. With a huge nod to 'The Lost Boys' and ever other teen horror movie over the last ten or more years, this attempt just end up been a complete mess. The backstory is fine but its repercussions in the modern era are confusing. You are expected to know what the Book of Damnation is and the power that it holds over the families and the history behind it. None of this is explained and it makes the plot confusing and just an excuse for more magic fights.

The cast are not the best either. Played by young up and coming actors and actresses, the characters never really capture your interest and are just stereotypes. Steven Strait, Laura Ramsey, Sebastian Stan, Taylor Kitsch, Chace Crawford, Toby Hemingway and Jessica Lucas are all performers that are just making their way in the business and appearing in a Renny Harlin movie might have seemed like a good move but the script really doesn't do them any favours.

With extremely poor visual effect, performances that do the actors no career favours and a plot that is confusing and underdeveloped, 'The Covenant' is an example of trying to jump on the bandwagon and missing completely. This movie is definitely not magic.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 2.35:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is good.

BONUS FEATURES

Commentary with Director Renny Harlin
The man at the helm provides a chatty and informative commentary on 'The Covenant'. Covering the background of the story, casting, key sequences, the visual effects and how key scenes were made, the director certainly seems to know what he is talking about, it is just a shame that the finished film doesn't match his enthusiasm and understanding of filmmaking.

Breaking the Silence: Exposing the Covenant (18.45 mins)
Director Renny Harlin, producer Tom Rosenburg, visual effects supervisor James McQuaide, director of photography Pierre Gill and stars Steven Strait, Laura Ramsey, Sebastian Stan, Chace Crawford, Wendy Crewson, Jessica Lucas and Toby Hemingway come together to talk about the story, characters, the visual effects and creating the darkness of the movie.

OVERALL

The DVD treatment of 'The Covenant' is fine. The featurette covers most aspects of the film's production and Renny Harlin's commentary covers the rest of the questions that fans will have about the movie. A featurette covering just the visual effects would have been good but the DVD treatment is better than the film deserves.

DVD

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

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2006