Horror and heart: When I Consume You is chilling family trauma at its best
By Carla Davis
When I Consume You premiered at the 2022 Fantasia Film Festival, where it was well received by audiences. If you have been waiting to see it for yourself, it will be available On Demand beginning August 16.
In When I Consume You, siblings Daphne and Wilson have not had an easy time during their lives. But, despite the family trauma and hardships they have been through, they are always there for one another, a feat that is more difficult than it sounds. Daphne has, with the help of Wilson, survived addiction, and is constantly trying to survive encounters with a frightening stalker.
Wilson always seems timid and unsure of himself, though he hopes to leave his job as a janitor and move onto something better. But, despite his insecurities, he is always there for his sister. When horrifying tragedy befalls the two, they resolve to hunt down Daphne’s stalker and put an end to him once and for all.
That’s not as simple as it sounds, however, for reasons I won’t discuss in detail (no spoilers from me), but what I will share is that this “stalker” is not just a crazy guy; there is something much more sinister and deadly about him.
When I Consume You contains both horror AND heart
When I Consume You is a film with a lot of heart, mostly due to the relationship between Daphne and Wilson. Actors Libby Ewing and Evan Dumouchel totally sell the sibling relationship here, and every moment they share onscreen is touching and heartfelt – even when Daphne is railing at Wilson to toughen up.
Most of the cast worked for Writer-Director Perry Blackshear on his two earlier feature films They Look Like People and The Siren, but Ewing was a new addition to the group, and she is fantastic as the outwardly strong but inwardly vulnerable Daphne.
Blackshear said that watching frightening films is submerging yourself into horror, then stepping into the light when the film is over. “But, what happens when we touch darkness everyday?” That’s exactly what Daphne and Wilson do each day of their lives, yet they find some redemption in their affection for one another.
In an interview with Variety, he talked about why he loves horror as a genre: “It feels like when I watch a scary movie in the theater, it’s like going through a kind of timeless ritual where you die, you feel death. You get to undergo this intense pain and suffering and yet you survive.”
When I Consume You is not a nonstop-action film; it’s more of a slow burn that pulls you in slowly before it ups your heart rate and makes you bite your fingernails. And it’s ultimately a film that will stay with you for a while.
When I Consume You will be available to watch on demand beginning Friday, August 19.
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Have you watched Perry Blackshear’s first two films, and will you watch When I Consume You? Tell us what you think in the comments section.