I remember a hot, scorching day in late July. The year was 1987 and I had just returned home from my local Cineplex. I had just seen the teen horror The Lost Boys. That film was mind blowing for a young kid of 14 years. I was forever changed and to this day, horror remains my favorite genre. What do the teens of this generation have to look forward to? Unfortunately, they get The Covenant.

First problem, the story was all over the place. Let me try to break this one down for you. In 1692, in the Ipswich Colony of Massachusetts, five families with untold powers formed a covenant of silence. Their silence would protect them from the witch trials of the time that were running rampant. One of these families, lusting for more power, was banished all together. Their bloodline also disappeared with them- until now.

Fast forward to present day. Four sons from the remaining families are on the verge of ascending. When they turn 18 years old, their powers become stronger, but the desire and temptation to misuse them become greater.

Caleb, the first of the four to ascend, senses that the power has been used in excess. After questioning his friends, he realizes that someone else has already ascended. Possibly the lost son from the fifth family.

On paper, this concept is intriguing. My problem was in the execution of the story. The acting was over the top. The pacing was slow and down right boring at times. Not one scare at all. The moments that were meant to scare were almost comical.

It’s bad when the two minute preview is more exciting than the feature itself. I feel sorry for young movie goers that have to hear dreadful lines like, “I’m gonna make you my wiotch”. I mean, for the love of all that is sacred. Not only should the covenant keep silent, but its filmmakers should do the same if this is all they can do with an otherwise interesting premise.

By Thomas Ferguson