In the mid-1980s, a cult residing at the woodsy domain of Heaven's Veil committed mass suicide, at the instigation of their leader, Jim Jacobs (an eerily convincing Thomas Jane). 25 years later, a documentary film crew led by Maggie Price (Jessica Alba) returns to the scene of the crime, accompanied by Sarah Hope (Lily Rabe), the sole survivor of that massacre who was only five years old at the time. Naturally, horror and death are soon to follow; Maggie and company are cliched horror movie characters who are much too stupid to get out while the getting is good.
Although directed by a capable, experienced filmmaker, Phil Joanou ("Three O'Clock High", "State of Grace"), much of what goes on here is pretty uninspired. "The Veil" takes us on a gloomy, atmospheric, but predictable journey. The film eventually turns into "found footage" material, and said footage is certainly better than the present-day narrative. Unfortunately, so many of the characters are utterly bland and forgettable, including Maggie; they lack any interesting or entertaining attributes. Joanou tries to make this visually enticing, with decent widescreen photography and a desaturated colour scheme. But the only thing really worth watching in this routine shocker is Janes' performance. Here, he has one of his better roles and gives one of his best performances. Jim Jacobs is as scary a cult leader as you'll ever see in this type of yarn.
"The Veil" is moderately watchable, but its story & characters, for the most part, failed to really engage this viewer.
Five out of 10.
Although directed by a capable, experienced filmmaker, Phil Joanou ("Three O'Clock High", "State of Grace"), much of what goes on here is pretty uninspired. "The Veil" takes us on a gloomy, atmospheric, but predictable journey. The film eventually turns into "found footage" material, and said footage is certainly better than the present-day narrative. Unfortunately, so many of the characters are utterly bland and forgettable, including Maggie; they lack any interesting or entertaining attributes. Joanou tries to make this visually enticing, with decent widescreen photography and a desaturated colour scheme. But the only thing really worth watching in this routine shocker is Janes' performance. Here, he has one of his better roles and gives one of his best performances. Jim Jacobs is as scary a cult leader as you'll ever see in this type of yarn.
"The Veil" is moderately watchable, but its story & characters, for the most part, failed to really engage this viewer.
Five out of 10.