Writer/director Daniel Diosdado’s The Nomad has some interesting concepts at play regarding revenge and faith. The problem is that the feature hits you over the head repeatedly with its ideas. The film is also hampered by incredibly cheesy dialogue that’s both amusing and cringeworthy.

The film stars Lauren Biazzo as Leah, a TV reporter with some serious baggage. Her character arc is the most interesting aspect of this lackluster feature. She was sexually abused by her father and also witnessed her mother, played by Marianne Goodell, stab and nearly kill him. This landed her in a mental institution, and Leah and her mother’s contact is limited to meetings in a New York City park, where Leah brings her chocolate. There’s also a major plot thread regarding Aaron (Dietrich Teschner), a priest who murders other priests after asking them absurd questions, like what’s the meaning of life. The kills are fairly mild, and there aren’t that many. Eventually, it’s revealed why Aaron does what he does, but the rationale is rather absurd. Eventually, Leah comes to Aaron and pleads with him to help her enact revenge on her father, who is a pastor. They also form a romantic relationship which makes little to no sense, considering the dude is a murderer. Why would any woman sleep with him?

There’s also a convoluted and unnecessary plot regarding a character named Daneen, played by Vanessa Calderón. She has a connection to Aaron and wants to stop him. Though this feature is rather lean in its runtime, it suffers from a poor script. The Daneen thread could have been cut, even if it serves to explain some of why Aaron does what he does. However, Leah’s story and her connection to Aaron is the most interesting aspect here. She’s a well-developed character with believable motivations. The movie should have centered itself more around her. It would have made for a stronger and more focused narrative.

The film’s other major drawback is its dialogue. There are far, far too many corny lines that feel all kinds of Hallmarky. The quasi-philosophical conversations that occur regarding faith and coincidence are overly simplified and poorly scripted. It’s also unclear at times what this movie wants to be. Is it a thriller? Is it a drama? Is it a Hallmark movie? The piano score often makes it feel like a Hallmark movie, and sometimes the music plays at all the wrong times, like when Aaron murders a priest. It’s an off-the-mark juxtaposition.

If the film has any positives, other than Leah’s character arc, it’s the stunning shots of New York City. At times, the film is gorgeous to look at. The city becomes a living, breathing character here. It’s obvious Diosdado has a love for the Big Apple, and it really comes through. That said, pretty shots of a New York City sunrise aren’t enough to save this film. It’s marred by superficial dialogue, shallow themes, and toothless thrills. The Nomad does have some engaging visuals, but it’s little more than a one-time watch.

5 Out of 10