Joshua (Josh Eisenberg) is dealing with his daughter being unwell due to an unknown toxin entering her body. But instead of being at the hospital with his partner and his unwell daughter, he spends all his spare time seeking answers and trying to find the person responsible for his daughter’s illness.
In the past, Joshua once worked for a global company and became a whistle-blower when he discovered the company’s negligence relating to environmental matters. Joshua believes his old workplace and manager are ruining his family’s life and are somehow responsible for his daughter’s illness. Joining Joshua on his journey to gain the truth are his best friends Keelee (Jennifer Churchich) and Dominic (Richard Wagner). But soon, Joshua and his friends find themselves in deep trouble when they kidnap Paul (Luis Woeland), the man who may or may not be responsible. Now Joshua will go in an unexpected direction to save his daughter, perhaps even giving up his soul in the process.
Behemoth is a horror film with a simple plot about a father taking big risks to find the truth. But despite the stunning imagery and effects, the plot is unclear, including visions and sequences that are not fully explained. One example of this is when Joshua is running and sees what seems to be some monster creature, which then disappears. At times, the film feels confusing or even unsure, even adding pointless subplots, such as a love triangle among leads. Even during the film’s third and final act, I only found answers to some of my questions, while other reveals still felt highly vague.
There are thankfully some enjoyable moments when it comes to visual effects, such as the fact that we see everything Joshua sees, which is always something disturbing or unsettling. Naturally, he is always questioning what’s real or what is just in his mind. Some effects are basic, but I still appreciated the visuals.
Performances are sadly nothing to brag about, which is also due to the poorly written script. Lines spoken by adults are generally weak and sound like teenagers. Granted, I did enjoy the performance of Luis Woeland, who plays the mysterious villain.
Overall, it saddens me to say it; I found this a disappointing horror film. With poorly written characters and unnatural dialogue, Behemoth has many scenes that feel pointless and are highly forgettable and slow-paced. Sure, the film delivers some moments of horror that are creative and pleasing, but everything else feels like it got left behind and sacrificed.
2.4/10
12th October 2021
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
PODCASTS ARE AVAILABLE!
0 Comments