Devour opens with a young man with a camouflage jacket and a hunting rifle wandering the woods when a wild beast attacks him. This man is Jake Cummings (Jensen Ackles) whose hazy identity begins to unveil from the opening scene.  However, one things is certain as Jake shares with the audience in his thoughts that he frequently experiences vivid nightmarish daydreams that he does not seem to be able to shake off.  Jake is also a college student who has just turned 21 and he is ready to go head to head with all the freedoms that come with his age together with his friends Dakota (Dominique Swain) and Conrad (Teach).

When Jake does not hangout with his friends he works at a computer store where he also meets the attractive Marisol (Shannyn Sossamon). At home he lives with his father with whom he has a strained, but a fatherly relationship.  Marisol works at the nursing home that takes care of Jake's quadriplegic mother where he also meets her.  Soon the two find each other, as they begin to fall in love.

One of the things that the three friends come across due to Conrad's birthday present to Jake is a website called the Pathway.  The Pathway contacts its members with different and often bizarre tasks to accomplish.  Initially, it seems harmless, but it soon turns dark and dangerous.  The events begin to turn increasingly more bizarre, as they eventually lead to death and destruction.  In the middle of this horrific mess Jake finds himself seeking comfort and help from his new girlfriend Marisol, as he tries to solve the mystery behind the Pathway.

Devour initially has a fascinating premise that actually keeps the audience interested in the story, as it discloses the element of conscious nightmares.  However, this premise turns into a muddled confusion, as too many plots and themes begin to intertwine in a delusional manner.  There is also an obvious use of iconic horror elements from other horror films such as the Hitcher (1986) and Ichi the Killer (2001).  Moreover, there are moments when the characters maneuver themselves with difficulty through the film and script.  Nonetheless, there are few moments when the film shows some promise and horror, but unfortunately the director David Winkler does not taking any risks.  This leaves the audience with a conventional horror story that feels flat and used, as it it eventually offers a gawky cinematic experience.

DIRECTED BY

COUNTRY

USA

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