Though his death has been ruled a murder/suicide that claimed another priest, Grace has doubts, which she wastes no time voicing to the handsome local detective (Thoren Ferguson). Her humdrum routine is disrupted by the sudden death of her brother, a priest who had been living with an extreme religious sect in the countryside. 3’ to ‘Chile ’76’Īn eye doctor who specializes in degenerative conditions, Grace (Malone) lives a quiet life, rarely socializing outside of professional connections. Where to Watch This Week’s New Movies, from ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.

Both bloody and/or creepy thrills are few and far between, but striking images and standout performances keep it cohesive. As clues to the story begin to unfold, however, as many questions are left answered as not, and the explanations are just vaguely eerie enough that one is left feeling like it doesn’t really matter. The minimalist story leans into the ornate Scottish Highlands surroundings, lingering in the awesome single location for much of the movie’s slick 90-minute running time. Jena Malone brings a biting charm to her portrayal of Grace, but the story’s straightforward revelations end up feeling far too muted for the holy surroundings.ĭirected and co-written (with Laurie Cook) by British horror maven Christopher Smith (“Black Death”), “Consecration” makes an artful attempt at telling a feminist revamp of a possession thriller. Perhaps that’s why the prickly focus of “ Consecration,” a muted possession thriller set in an isolated Scottish convent, feels like such a blank slate, albeit a self-possessed one.

Women are typically the recipients of witch burnings, exorcisms, and speaking in twisted tongues their capacity to be a vessel is both their power and their weakness. A woman in full possession of her own power, freedom, and mind can think for herself, can question male authority, and even create life. Nothing is more threatening to religion than a woman possessed.

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