With the look and feel of a One Act play, this twisty thriller benefits from a quiet, superb performance by Colm Meany, a world class actor. As it starts, we have no idea where it will go, and when we guess, we are usually wrong. I like that in a movie.
Writer/Director David Beton, unfortunately, doesn’t reel in the writer side of himself, letting the talky middle act go on far too long, becoming a bit circular in spots. As a result, by the time the film ends, we’ve lost some of the patience and anxious curiosity that pulled us in during the first act.
A man in a nice suit bursts into a Boston church that Father Peter (Meany) is just locking up for the night. Two important things: that man, Victor (Stephen Moyer) has a nasty gunshot wound to the gut and he’s holding a gun at the priest, threatening to kill him if he doesn’t sit and listen.
Meantime, the two are not alone – there is someone else hiding in the church (Clare-Hope Ashitey) who also has a gun and a story to tell. She also wants to kill Victor.
Intriguing right?
As a 60 minute stage play, with all the talk, talk, talk edited down, this would be a 4- star story. But probably owing to budget constraints, all of the action takes place in the church sanctuary or Father Pete’s adjoining room.
That doesn’t help.
Ultimately, Confession doesn’t live up to its initial promise, but it will work out fine as an On-Demand rental for some on a weeknight.
