The idea of being possessed is scary. But the idea of losing yourself completely to something else as it becomes you is even scarier. This concept is what drew me into Becoming. After the first 10 minutes I was hooked. But in the last 10 minutes I was left with nothing but a sigh of disappointment and a longing for what could have been. Excellent acting, sound editing, and original concepts make this movie a malicious masterpiece. Lackluster execution, a vanilla ending, and some disjointed storytelling take that masterpiece…finger paint all over it… and put in the yard sale pile.

Becoming follows Alex (Toby Kebbell) and Lisa (Penelope Mitchell) as they take a road trip so Alex can meet Lisa’s parents before the wedding. Along the way they stop at Alex’s long-lost cousin’s house so they can reconnect (ahh how convenient) so Alex can have someone at the wedding because he has literally no family (I say again…how convenient). During their travels they unknowingly encounter an ancient evil. Unbeknownst to them, this malevolent being chooses Alex as its host and slowly becomes him by taking over his mind and body. During this process Alex grows into someone terrifying and violent. The changes start out small but grow in magnitude and Lisa is left to find a way to save her husband from Becoming ancient demon fodder.

I mentioned the first 10 minutes hooked me. And that is true. The opening sequence is all things unsettling and creepy. It was unexpected and attention grabbing. The tone of tension had been set and I was all in. From there we see excellent acting performances from Toby Kebbell (Bloodshot, Kong: Skull Island, Black Mirror) and Penelope Mitchell (Hellboy, Hemlock Grove, The Vampire Diaries) were stellar. They have a believable onscreen chemistry and they are a pleasure to watch. Special recognition should be given to Kebbell for his performance. He mastered the art of becoming someone else. Seamlessly switching from Alex, the loveable fiancée, to demonic body snatcher supreme. Stance, facial expression, gait, and speech are just a few of the subtle yet profound changes he makes so it is clear to the audience who has control over Alex’s body at any given moment.

The concept of possession/body snatching may not be entirely new but writer-director Omar Naim (who also wrote and directed Final Cut starring Robin Williams), certainly has an original take on it and he should be applauded for that. In some ways it is more unsettling than your run-of-the-mill “possession flick”. It’s not quite a possession because it’s not a symphony of split pea spewage and guttural growling. It wants to fully BECOME the other person, imitating them and living that person’s life…until it’s ready to “move on”. So rather than a possession, it’s a transformation. Which is much more final…and much creepier if you ask me!

This is perhaps best displayed in that the evil entity quite literally empties the persons essence a little at a time. The best example of this is shown in what I will call the “car-ownership discrepancy” scene. The idea and execution of this scene was highly original and utterly enjoyable. It was a pivotal moment in the film that while I enjoyed, I wasn’t sure if they would be able to expand and explain the concept properly. Unfortunately, that uncertainty proved to be forecasting for the remainder of the film.

The biggest issue with this film takes place in the final 30 minutes. While there are some exciting moments and a few unexpected surprises, the story feels rushed and half thought out in places. Certain details are never fully explained (for example the geographical convenience of literally everything). And that concept of essence emptying I mentioned? There was an attempt at explanation, but I just felt unsatisfied with it. The film’s essential concept was so interesting and unique but by the end you are feeling cheated out of what could have been a superb ending. That made this film feel more like standard “VOD fanfare” rather than a standout horror suspense film.

Becoming started out strong and had a lot to offer. A strong concept, stellar cast, and solid sound mixing. But those enjoyable elements soon gave way to the overwhelmingly destructive powers of a poorly executed story. Becoming is a slow burn horror film that burned so hot at the beginning, only to burn out by the end. Mediocre endings took control of this film. A film which started as a wildfire, becoming only embers as the credits rolled.