The Covenant
Directed by Renny Harlin
- fantasy
- horror
- adventure
The story
Four young men who belong to a supernatural legacy are forced to battle a fifth power long thought to have died out. Another great force they must contend with is the jealousy and suspicion that threatens to tear them apart.
What it’s like
Glossy, saturated early-2000s teen-horror polish: sun-bleached Southern California and an isolated New England-style estate, shot with crisp digital sharpness, deep shadows and warm amber interiors that turn cold blue at night. Camera moves are fluid and showy, with slow pushes through hallways and swooping crane shots over water, and the score leans on pulsing synth and electric guitar stings that punctuate the jump scares. Sound design is loud where it wants to be, with crackling spectral effects and rushing wind, and the magic itself is shown as sparks, shadow-smoke and eerie glowing marks rather than anything tactile. The overall vibe is sleek, moody and a little trashy, best for a late-night watch with friends or a nostalgic rewatch of pretty young men in dark rooms. Pacing is brisk and the emotional register runs on rivalry and loyalty, following four friends whose bond strains under suspicion and sudden power. The horror is supernatural, with creeping dread, sudden shocks and some violence including a few bloody fights and a sacrifice-style death; there is no sustained gore and little sexual content. It suits viewers who want stylish, low-gore genre entertainment about brotherhood and secret inheritance.
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