The Covenant (2006 film): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Film by Renny Harlin}}

''This article is about the feature film. For the alien race, see [[The Covenant (Halo)]]. For other kinds of covenants, see [[Covenant (disambiguation)]].''

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox Film

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}

| name = The Covenant

{{Infobox film

| image = Thecovenantposter.gif

| name = The Covenant

| caption = Film Poster

| image = The Covenant.jpg

| director = [[Renny Harlin]]

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| producer = Gary Lucchesi<br/>[[Tom Rosenberg]]

| writer director = [[J.S.Renny CardoneHarlin]]

| producer = {{Plainlist|

| starring = [[Steven Strait]]<br/>[[Sebastian Stan]]<br/>[[Laura Ramsey]]<br/>[[Taylor Kitsch]]<br/>[[Toby Hemingway]]<br/>[[Jessica Lucas]]<br/>[[Chace Crawford]]

* [[Gary Lucchesi]]

| music = [[Tomandandy]]

* [[Tom Rosenberg]]

}}

| writer = [[J. S. Cardone]]

| starring = {{Plainlist|

* [[Steven Strait]]

* [[Sebastian Stan]]

* [[Laura Ramsey]]

* [[Taylor Kitsch]]

* [[Toby Hemingway]]

* [[Jessica Lucas]]

* [[Chace Crawford]]

* [[Wendy Crewson]]

}}

| music = [[Tomandandy]]

| cinematography = [[Pierre Gill]]

| editing = [[Nicolas de Toth]]

| production_companies = {{Plainlist|

| distributor = [[Screen Gems]]

* [[Screen Gems]]

| released = [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|22px|USA]] [[September 8]], [[2006]]<br/>

* [[Lakeshore Entertainment]]

[[Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|22px|UK]] [[December 8]], [[2006]]

* Sandstorm Films

[[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|22px|UK]] [[October 12]], [[2006]]

}}

| runtime = 1 hr 37 min

| distributor = [[Sony Pictures Releasing]]

| country = [[USA]]

| released = {{Film date|2006|9|8}}

| awards =

| runtime = 97 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 97:00--><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-covenant-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc00mtq5ndi|title=''The Covenant'' (12A)|work=[[British Board of Film Classification|BBFC]]|date=September 5, 2006|access-date=March 6, 2015}}</ref>

| language = [[English language|English]]

| country = United States

| budget =

| language = English

| Release Date: September 8th, 2006 (wide)

| budget = $20 million<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Covenant-The|title=The Covenant (2006) – Financial Information|website=The Numbers}}</ref>

| gross = $37.6 million<ref name="mojo"/>

| preceded_by =

| followed_by =

| amg_id = 1:334173

| imdb_id = 0475944

}}

'''''The Covenant''''' is a 2006 American [[2006dark fantasy]] [[horror film|horror]]/ directed by [[thrillerRenny Harlin]] and written by [[movie|filmJ. S. Cardone]]. directedThe byfilm stars [[RennySteven HarlinStrait]], based[[Sebastian onStan]], the[[Laura bookRamsey]], "[[TheTaylor CovenantKitsch]], (Book)|The[[Jessica CovenantLucas]]" by, [[AronToby ColeiteHemingway]], and [[ToneChace RodriguezCrawford]].

''The Covenant'' was released in the United States by [[Sony Pictures Releasing]] on September 8, 2006. Despite receiving negative reviews from critics, it was a moderate box office success.

==Story==

In 1692, in the [[Ipswich, Massachusetts|Ipswich]] Colony of [[Massachusetts]], five families formed a covenant of silence. One family lusting for more was banished, their bloodline disappearing - without a trace.

Until now.

'''The Covenant''' tells the story of the Sons of Ipswich, four young students at the elite Spencer Academy who are bound by their sacred ancestry. As descendants of the original families that settled in Ipswich Colony in the 1600s, the boys have all been given amazing powers, by the right of their heritage.

When the body of a student is discovered after a party, secrets begin to unravel which threaten to break the covenant of silence that has protected the families for hundreds of years.

==Plot==

<!--As per WP:FILMPLOT, plots should be between 400 and 700 words. Please do not over-expand-->

{{spoiler}}

In [[Ipswich, Massachusetts]], four high school boys – Caleb Danvers, Pogue Parry, Reid Garwin, and Tyler Simms, collectively known as the "Sons of Ipswich" – possess magical abilities as the descendants of the four remaining [[Salem witch trials|colonial witch]] families. Magic manifests on a witch's thirteenth birthday and grows stronger until they "ascend" at eighteen, upon which their powers increase significantly. However, use of magic can be [[Addiction|addictive]], with overuse causing accelerated aging, insanity, and death.

As the new school year begins at Spencer Academy, students have gathered for a wild outdoor party to mark the end of summer. Hundreds of feet above the gyrating bodies, the Sons of Ipswich walk to the edge of a cliff and drop unseen and unscathed before casually joining the fray.

At a bonfire party the Sons meet Sarah Wenham and Chase Collins, both new students at their school; Caleb and Sarah become romantically involved soon thereafter. When a student is found dead near the school campus, various paranormal occurrences begin to occur, with Sarah and Pogue's girlfriend Kate Tunney being the primary targets. Caleb suspects Reid, the most reckless of the group, but he denies the accusation. After Caleb observes Chase using magic during a swimming competition, he discovers that Chase is the descendent of a fifth family of witches long believed to be extinct. As the Sons discuss this revelation, Pogue learns that Kate has been rendered comatose by a spell. He confronts Chase, but is defeated and hospitalized.

At the party, newcomer Sarah Wenham is introduced to the boys by her roommate Kate, who is Pogue's long time girlfriend. The girls also meet an intriguing transfer student named Chase Collins who quickly ingratiates himself into the group. The DJ informs everybody that the police are coming, the four heroes are slow to disperse and are caught in a chase, and are forced to drive off a cliff but using their powers, land right behind the cops unscathed, who are bewildered and frozen in their places.

The police later discover the body of a student, dead of an apparent drug overdose. The school headmaster immediately suspects Caleb and his friends are somehow involved.

Meanwhile, as Sarah, a former Boston public school student, tries to adjust to dorm life

at the elite prep school, she can’t shake the creepy feeling that someone – or something

– is watching her every move, especially when she is showering and hears a light bulb break when she gets out of the shower, she feels someone watching her and hurries to her dorm room, only to run into Reid, who insists that they check it out, but upon reaching find nothing, so bidding each other good night they leave.

The next day Caleb is talking to Pogue about the news of the dead student which he has just read, when he sees the student sitting right next to him in the passenger seat, he freaks out and drops his phone, while Pogue tries to ask what happened. Suddenly Caleb looks straight ahead to see that he is about to hit a truck right ahead of him. They slam into each other, while in slow motion we see Caleb using his powers to dismantle the car and rebuild it after the truck has passed to land safely and unscathed from the accident.

He later goes into a pharmacy to get medication for his mother, where he meets Kate and Sarah and is joined by Chase. Sarah joins him on his route to deliver the medicine, passing by beautiful scenery and an old shack, at one point she wishes she had brought her camera, so she could take photographs of the beautiful scenery.

With tensions rising at the school, Caleb and his friends close ranks. In one scene Caleb is challenged at swimming by Chase, Caleb is about to win when Chase uses his powers to speed up, making Caleb lose focus, hit his head on the pool walls and black out. When he reawakens he is told that Chase saved him, but he is suspicous of Chase because he saw his eyes turn pitch black. That night Caleb and Pogue break into the school records room, to take a look at Chase's files. They find the files they want and are looking through them, when they are interrupted by a security guard on his rounds. He enters but finds nothing, we are then shown Caleb and Pogue levitating overhead near the ceiling, and Caleb levitates some papers when they are about to fall on the guard.

==Excerpts of plot and setting==

According to a recent interview with ''[[Fangoria (magazine)|Fangoria]]'' magazine, the Four Young Men, or "'''the Sons of Ipswich'''" as the director and screenwriter refer to them, have inherited their powers through their respective family bloodlines. Although

they appear to be normal teenagers, they share an unspoken bond, not only are they

descendants of the original families that settled Ipswich Colony around the time of the

Salem witch trials, they also inherited their ancestors’ supernatural powers. But their

ability to shape-shift, defy gravity and perform superhuman feats of strength comes at a

terrible cost: Every time one of the Sons of Ipswich uses his magical powers, he ages

prematurely, and the seductive temptation to abuse the power makes it more addictive than any

drug. What’s more, life is only going to get harder for the young friends, at the moment

each boy turns 18, he will “ascend,” gaining far more potent – and addictive – powers.

With Caleb’s birthday just a few days away, his mother Evelyn is terrified her son will find it impossible to resist the lure of power like his father before him. Caleb assures her he’ll be able to handle his new abilities.

==The Sons of Ipswich==

*'''Caleb Danvers'''

Caleb Danvers played by [[Steven Strait]] is the captain of Spencer Academy's swimming team and the leader of " the Sons of Ipswich". He is exceptionally competitive and expects nothing other than the best from himself. A star student and freestyle champion, his future is lined with his intelligence, hard work and strong will to win. He is the most cautious in the group and is always careful not to use his powers too much.

However, the legacy of the Danvers family weighs heavily on him. Living at his big family estate, he harbors a dark secret. He is the only one of the four who has seen up close the terrifying effects of their growing abilities.

Now as his 18th birthday approaches, Caleb's abilities will escalate and his power will be beyond imagination.

*'''Pogue Perry'''

Played by [[Taylor Kitsch]], he is rude and disorderly. As the only son of one of Ipswich's most well-known families, much is expected from him. However, he is not a very good student and lacks academic interest, and spends most of his free time racing his beloved motorcycle in ways that would make the most reckless daredevils stare in awe.

Pogue is an adamant friend, no matter what or how tough the situation is. Kate Tunney is his girlfriend.

*'''Reid Garwin'''

Deceitful and roguish Reid Garwin ([[Toby Hemingway]]) is a brash and a persistent practical joker. Always looking to stir up trouble, he even gets into a fight with Caleb for picking a fight in a club. Enjoys using his powers more - a little too much more - than anybody else in the group. He also enjoys using them when no one is watching. Although he is reckless, he is very loyal to his friends.

Likes to boss people around, although nobody takes his threats seriously.

*'''Tyler Simms'''

The youngest of the Sons of Ipswich, Tyler, played by [[Chace Crawford]], is shy and quiet. Tries very hard to impress the other boys and acts somewhat awkwardly in front of girls. He is Reid's "sidekick" and is scared of him. He also has a new truck which he is very proud to show off at every opportunity. Uncomfortable around tension and has a weird tendency to state the obvious.

==Characters==

*'''Chase Collins'''

The mysterious new kid at school played by [[Sebastian Stan]], later revealed to be the son of the fifth banished family of the covenant. Quickly sucks up to Caleb and the girls, an orphan, seems like a nice young man whose parents died in a car accident. Has attended many schools and is the heir to a large family trust.

Seems more mature than all the other kids at school although in somewhat a sinister way. Challenges Caleb for dominance on the pool and moves in on Pogue's girlfriend.

*'''Sarah Wenham'''

Sarah Wenham ([[Laura Ramsey]]) is also a new girl at Spencer Academy, her room mate is Kate. Studious and energetic, she is determined to make the most of her scholarship, so that she will be able to get into Harvard.

She has a wicked sense of humour and has even gotten the super serious Caleb to loosen up a bit. Although this may seem like a dream at first she realises that there are some nightmares that are far more than she can handle.

*'''Kate Tunney'''

[[Jessica Lucas]] plays Kate Tunney, Pogue's girlfriend and one of Spencer's most privileged elite. A daddy's girl, Kate has travelled the world in high style, she is used to getting the best of everything and is difficult to satisfy. So it is no surprise when she tests her long time relationship with Pogue to flirt with Chase. A party girl who never misses a chance to have fun, and has taken the new girl Sarah under her wing.

*'''Evelyn Danvers'''

Evelyn Danvers ([[Wendy Crewson]]) is the mother of Caleb Danvers. Caleb looks after his mother who is mysteriously sad yet unrelenting with her commitment to her family.

==Minor Cast==

*[[Robert Crooks]] - Ryan Bael

*[[Neil Napier]] - Coach Hamm

*[[Stephan McHattie]] - James Danvers

==Crew==

*[[Renny Harlin]] - Director

*[[J.S.Cardone]] - Screenplay/Executive Producer

*[[Tom Rosenberg]] - Producer

*[[Gary Lucchesi]] - Producer

*[[Andre Lamal]] - Executive Producer

Caleb confronts Chase, who reveals that he was adopted; unaware of the origin and cost of his powers, he became addicted to them, and believes he can stave off the ill effects of overuse by forcing other ascended witches to transfer their power to him. Caleb reveals the truth to Sarah and takes her to his father William, whose 44-year-old body is decrepitly aged from magic abuse. When Sarah suggests that one of the other three Sons transfer their power to Caleb so he could fight Chase, he refuses as it would cost the person offering their life.

*[[Pierre Gill]] - Director of Photography

On the night of Caleb's eighteenth birthday, he leaves to face Chase while Reid and Tyler safeguard Sarah, though Chase easily kidnaps her and demands Caleb's powers for her return. He refuses and the two duel, though Caleb is outmatched even after he ascends mid-battle. William sacrifices his life by transferring his powers to Caleb; with his father's power infused within him, he strikes Chase with a final blow that engulfs him. Sarah, Kate, and Pogue recover, and Caleb and Sarah drive off hand-in-hand.

*[[Nicolas de Toth]] - Editor

<!--As per WP:FILMPLOT, plots should be between 400 and 700 words. Please do not over-expand-->

==Cast==

*[[Anne Pritchard]] - Production Designer

* [[Steven Strait]] as Caleb Danvers, one of the four Sons of Ipswich. He attends Spenser Academy with the other Sons and is the oldest and most responsible and protective among the four. He is very cautious about using the Power due to its effect on his father and is the first to ascend.

* [[Sebastian Stan]] as Chase Collins, a new student at Spenser who befriends the Sons of Ipswich

* [[Laura Ramsey]] as Sarah Wenham, a new student at Spenser who transfers from a Boston public school, Caleb's love interest and Kate's friend

* [[Taylor Kitsch]] as Pogue Parry, one of the four Sons of Ipswich; the oldest after Caleb and his best friend. He is also Kate's boyfriend.

* [[Jessica Lucas]] as Kate Tunney, Sarah's roommate and Pogue's girlfriend

* [[Toby Hemingway]] as Reid Garwin, one of the four Sons of Ipswich and the most reckless and sassiest of the four, who often butts heads with Caleb

* [[Chace Crawford]] as Tyler Simms, one of the four Sons of Ipswich; the youngest of the four, who is the closest to Reid and usually takes his side

* [[Kyle Schmid]] as Aaron Abbot, a pompous student and jock

* [[Sarah Smyth]] as Kira Snider, a snobby student and Aaron's girlfriend

* [[Wendy Crewson]] as Evelyn Danvers, Caleb's alcoholic mother, who worries about her son Ascending and becoming like his father

* [[Stephen McHattie]] as William Danvers III, Caleb's father

* [[Kenneth Welsh]] as Provost Higgins, head of Spenser Academy

* [[Jon McLaren]] as Bordy Becklin

* [[Steven Crowder]] as a party kid

==Graphic novel==

*[[April Napier]] - Costume Designer

A comic book prequel to the movie was released by [[Top Cow Comics]].<ref>{{cite web |date=July 8, 2005 |title=From Film To Comics: Coleite & Rodriguez tackle "The Covenant" |url=https://www.cbr.com/from-film-to-comics-coleite-rodriguez-tackle-the-covenant/ |access-date=2008-06-07 |publisher=Comic Book Resources}}</ref> Top Cow Comics founder [[Marc Silvestri]] also served as associate producer for the film.

==Reception==

*[[Tomandandy]] - Music Composer

===Critical response===

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|4|2.90|75|''The Covenant'' plays out like a [[teen film|teen]] [[soap opera]], full of pretty faces, wooden acting, laughable dialogue, and little suspense.|ref=yes |access-date=April 25, 2023}} It is ranked 89th on the website's list of the 100 Worst Movies of All Time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/worst-movies-of-all-time/|title= Bad Movies: 100 Worst Movies of All Time|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandago Inc.]]|access-date=April 25, 2023}}</ref> {{Metacritic film prose|19|16|ref=yes|access-date=April 25, 2023}} Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemascore.com|title=Find CinemaScore|format=Type "Covenant" in the search box|publisher=[[CinemaScore]]|access-date=May 25, 2019}}</ref>

==Trivia=Box office===

Upon its release in the United States, the film managed to top the box office charts with a $8.9 million opening on what was called a "weak" weekend.<ref>[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2153&p=.htm 'Covenant' Hovers Over Weak Weekend]. ''[[Box Office Mojo]]''. Retrieved October 28, 2010.</ref> By the end of its theatrical run, ''The Covenant'' earned $23.3 million in the U.S. and $13.9 million in other territories for a total of $37.3 million worldwide).<ref name="mojo">{{mojo title|covenant|The Covenant}}</ref> The film cost roughly $20 million to produce, not including marketing.

*Shipped to cinemas under the code name "Full Power".

*The powers the group of boys possess are reminiscent of a simlar type of power held by a group of boys in [[Stephen King]]'s novel ''[[Dreamcatcher (novel)|Dreamcatcher]]''. Perhaps as a way of acknowledging this, during a scene in the film set in the boarding school, Spencer Academy in which an instructor is discussing authors, Reid Garwin, a Son of Ipswich, states that "''Dreamcatcher'' was da shit".

*Jessica Lucas and Laura Ramsey who play roommates in the film also both starred in "[[She's the Man]]".

*Chase is stated to be a descendant of [[John Putnam]], one of the founders of Salem. This may also be a reference to [[Thomas Putnam]], a character in the [[Arthur Miller]] play; [[The Crucible]].

*Some sites have compared this film to [[The Lost Boys]].

*It was filmed in [[Montreal, Quebec]].

*The trailer features the song "[[Save Yourself]]" by [[Stabbing Westward]].

*The opening sequence of the movie features a remix of [[White Zombie (band)|White Zombie]]'s "[[More Human Than Human]]".

*[[Darkwave]] band [[Collide]] contributed two tracks to the film's soundtrack.

*The film was promoted with the tag-line "From the producers of ''[[Underworld (2003 film)|Underworld]]''", which is a reference to [[Gary Lucchesi]] and [[Tom Rosenberg]].

==Home See also media==

''The Covenant'' was released on [[DVD]] and [[Blu-ray]] on January 2, 2007. It went on to sell 1,618,891 units, which translated to revenue of $26,578,576.<ref>[http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2006/COVNT-DVD.php The Covenant – DVD Sales]. ''The Numbers''. Retrieved 2011.07.23.</ref>

* [[2006 in film]]

== Reception References==

{{Reflist}}

''The Covenant'' was widely panned by critics, getting a 4% "Rotten" rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]]. [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/covenant/] Upon its release in the United States, the film still managed to top the box office charts with a '''$9,000,000''' opening on what was called a "weak" weekend.

==External links==

As of October 15, 2006, ''The Covenant'' has earned $23,292,105 in the US. The film cost roughly $20 million to produce, not including marketing. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475944/business]

{{Wikiquote}}

* {{IMDb title|0475944|The Covenant}}

* {{Metacritic film|title=The Covenant}}

* {{mojo title|covenant|The Covenant}}

* {{rotten-tomatoes|covenant|The Covenant}}

{{Renny Harlin}}

== External links ==

*{{imdb title|id=0475944|title=The Covenant}}

*[http://www.jointhecovenant.com Official Site of ''The Covenant'']

*[http://www.onifc.com/films/42030/show.htm More About the Movie and a Review by Michael T. Bannon]

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[[Category:Films scored by Tomandandy]]

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[[Category:Films with screenplays by J. S. Cardone]]

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