The Beckoning DVD Review

A brief history of Sir Francis Drake and his exploits, and particularly his six-week stay in Marin County, CA, begins Zan Media’s film The Beckoning, released on October 31, 2007. The Beckoning is a sort of historical flash-back to Drake’s arrival in 1579, where modern-day thesis-writing co-ed Barbara Lewis (Lindsay Drummer) is drawn to past haunts where demons show her what happened at The Drake House long ago: an Indian witch began to kill off members of Drake’s (Robert S. Currier’s)crew, whereas his interactions with the local Indians before this had been peaceful.

The film has overly-fast music during its first half (supposedly to draw us in, but with opposite results), and throughout The Beckoning there are far too many boring car rides (of no import to the viewer!) to the same places (which should have been cut). The relationship between Barbara and her boyfriend Vic Crawford (Cameron Zeidler) is not particularly believable except when plot-propelled. Barbara leaves on a trip to visit her friend Jackie Hills (Deidre Kotch) but disappears on a trip alone to The Drake House, where she is haunted by the supernatural and tortured as she recalls her crimes in a past life as the Indian witch (although there is a deceitful twist to this), and burned at the stake. Along the way to The Drake House she asks directions of a worker at the marina, Frank (John Conway), who suspiciously seems reluctant to speak.

Without a doubt the best performance in The Beckoning comes from Robert S. Currier playing Sir Francis Drake, but his part is unfortunately minimal. Lindsay Drummer lends good energy to the film as protagonist Barbara (and we learn from the interesting special feature Wails In The Wallpaper – Making The Beckoning, that they are both members of the same Shakespearean troupe, Lindsay as a neophyte and Robert as a seasoned actor. Don and Christine Scioli discovered Lindsay there, playing in a production of Romeo and Juliet.). John Conway as Frank, the marina worker, adds mystery and substance to the film, although his part is small also.

Although unrated, The Beckoning might be a bit much for family watching (I don’t think the kids could take the constant biting of Barbara’s feet by rats, and the sores they left certainly made me uncomfortable!). The beginning and middle of The Beckoning is far too slow-moving to capture attention, and the denouement doesn’t make up for what came before. Despite a few interesting special effects (very few!), I would give it a pass and watch only Robert S. Currier talking about The Legacy Of Sir Francis Drake in Special Features, which truly comes alive in his rendition!

MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 90 Minutes
DVD Release Date: October 27, 2007

Grade: C

Director: Don Scioli
Interviews: Robert S. Currier, Lindsay Drummer, Cameron Zeidler, John Conway and Deidre Kotch

DVD Review by Christina of Movie Room Reviews