A 19th-century preacher is seduced by the devil in this atmospheric but meandering debut feature

This year has seen a boom in religious horror, from occult pre-boot The First Omen to Immaculate’s nunsploitation with a feminist twist. The debut feature from writer-director Ben Bigelow follows these illustrious forerunners, but lacks the flair or originality of either. Immaculate serves as a pro-choice parable and the Omen franchise allegorises a destructive lust for power, but Bigelow’s film about a minister seduced by the devil just doesn’t seem to have much to say.

In a somewhat uncertain setup, a family of four led by preacher Ezekiel Thatcher are stranded in the sprawling western wilderness of the 1860s. While they attempt to find their bearings, Thatcher hears a mysterious and apparently miraculous keening sound, and resolves to build a church to what he thinks is the voice of God.