The Convent

Pure genius with tasteful subtlety. It examines the relationship of religion, God, and Greek life. This movie is only for those who appreciate a slow burn and ambiguity in their films. If you've seen any Mike Mendez film, you'll know what you're in for.

'The Convent' was hardly one of those films that was dead on arrival from the get go or anything. Not one of those films that had few or no interest points or where the idea was bad. Actually thought that the idea was interesting enough, even if it was one where one should know what to expect (not Oscar-winning material, not that kind of film) and the cover looked creepy.

Even when knowing what to expect, 'The Convent' just didn't deliver and doesn't really execute its interesting idea well. Really tried to take it for what it was and what it was trying to be and do, but it was hard to do that when too many elements are done poorly and when not a particularly good job is done scaring or entertaining. Have seen far worse potential wastes recently, films that waste absolutely everything going for it and films failing when they shouldn't have.

Will start with what 'The Convent' does reasonably in. Most of it looks pretty decent and could tell at least what period and such it was set in, it has an unsettling look namely down to the lighting and the costumes and settings, while not lavish, don't at least look shoe-string budget-like. The camera work mostly isn't too gimmicky and is suitably moody. The music is variable in 'The Convent', but when it works it is haunting and doesn't create a discord with the atmosphere.

It did start off quite creepily, not original sure but the creepy atmosphere was there. While like the music the acting was on and off, Claire Higgins and Hannah Arterton were more than respectable throughout.

However, some of the other actors are pretty monotone and don't really bring much to their very limited material. Michael Ironside is generally watchable and has been known to be one of the better things of mediocre or less films (and he has his fair share of those), but did not see the point of him being there. He has very little to do and his appearance is placed so awkwardly, he felt very out of place. Some, not all as said but enough times for it to be a problem, of the music was inappropriate in style and tone and jarred as a result, like it was intended for another film. Occasionally the camera work is not particularly professional but on the visual side it's the slapdash and over-obvious special effects that fare worst.

Found the script to be cheesy, very stilted and like it was barely finished, a re-write and read-through more (if there was any of either in the first place) and that would have made at least a smidgeon of a difference. 'The Convent' started well enough, but as it progressed the duller and sillier it became. Suspense and scares were far too few, and the middle especially drags. The last act didn't really excite or unsettle me and it bordered on silly, while the gore could be used excessively and for no real reason other than the film's way of creating some kind of shock value.

On the whole, nothing offensive about it but not a particularly good effort. 4/10

Uninteresting and with terrible CGI effects scattered amongst some fair practical effects. Atmosphere is okay, pacing less so. Incomprehensible plot. Gains a couple of stars by having the mighty Michael Ironside (albeit for literally about two minutes; was he just here on holiday?) and Clare 'Hellraiser' Higgins.

So when the epic "The Conjuring" starts to branch out with "Annabelle" and "The Nun" storylines it's like casting chum into the waters... the sharks start swarming. There has been an influx of killer doll flicks and horror titles with "Nun" in or religious-based movie gruesomeness.

I can't fault the filmmakers for wanting to make money and get their film out to audiences... just as long as they believe in their work and their not out for a quick buck, made from somebody else's hard work.

"The Convent" isn't a quick buck maker. However, with actresses Hannah Arterton, Claire Higgins, Rosie Day, and Emily Tucker you have a main cast that is stronger than "The Nun"

Claire Higgins gives a more than credible portrayal of a misguided Reverend Mother, who "saves" lost souls and wayward girls from the barbaric justice of the period. She is strong, unemotional, and unflappable, even when her world falls apart. While Hannah Arterton as the seer, Persephone gives a quiet and moody performance. You get the idea that there's something different about her. That she's always looking, listening, and forming ideas and conclusions. Whereas, the other wayward girls have had the fight religious'ed out of them, making them sheep. Persephone has enough piss and vinegar left to go head to head with the holinesses.

However, I cannot understand why Michael Ironside does a cameo for this film. Now I love Michael and I do tend to watch a film should I see his name in the titles. Though, for the size of his role, he shouldn't have been in the top billing, especially when he's not the strongest actor in the cast. This film is strong enough to stand on its own without needing a name to pull in a crowd. It would've been nice if he'd tried an English accent at least.

The story is your basic Good V's Evil. Unfortunately, the Sisters pride set them up for one hell of a fall (puns intended) and a darkness falls over the convent. There's a strange malady falling over the inhabitants. A fever that infects the brain and forces the diseased to claw out their own eyes. Persephone begins to suspect that there's something else at work in the convent. Could it be the Reverend Mother, The Sisters, or something else?

There aren't many twists in the tale, though the way it's filmed, along with the strength of the acting, keeps the audience watching. The lighting is nice, though it could have been a tad more atmospheric. It wouldn't have hurt to throw in some different and creative film techniques to add a bit more interest; titillating the viewers a little more. All over, it's pretty standard horror fair - direction-wise. I must admit, I did like the way that the gore was kept to a minimum and used perfectly to shock and to build the storyline. Even the quick-snap flashbacks to the massacre were used flawlessly. The gore here come quick and fast - leaving the viewers mind to fill in most of the details.

For me, the pace of the film could have been more varied. For the most part, the story is slow. This builds atmosphere and lets you have time to digest the characters and their surroundings. The thing is, when the director wants to create tension, especially when Persephone is sneaking about, he can't really slow it down anymore - it would make it boring. So, being a little faster paced could only have enhanced the mood of these scenes, which didn't quite work.

If you enjoy horror stories that crawl and slither under your skin and scratch away at your souls then this could be for you. "The Convent" is an enjoyable film and one to watch on a dark cold night... you might feel like you're there with them...

I gave the movie a 5 because first off I am extremely hard to please.

I must say I enjoyed this movie and it kept me going throughout. The acting and cinematography was midway but it had a good story line and heck anything with evil Nuns is going to keep my attention.

The downsides were the horrible accents, syntax, and so so costumes but everything else balances all that out.

This is not going to be the greatest movie you will see this year but it is definitely worth the $4.00 rental.