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When a man walks into a church to give his confession, he’s expected to come at peace, with a contrite heart, ready to give up the sins of his past. But in the tense thriller Confession, there’s’ nothing especially peaceful about a dangerous man’s late-night confession.
Confession begins as Victor Strong (Stephen Moyer) walks into a church one night and locks himself inside with the church’s priest, Father Peter (Colm Meany). Victor is armed and most likely fatally wounded, but he’s determined to tell Father Peter his story—and leave him with an important task—before he dies. Father Peter tries to nurse Victor’s wounds while listening to his tale of heartbreak and revenge—all while enemies close in. And though the truth of Victor’s story sometimes comes into question, it creates a bond between the two men.
While Confession may sound like a simple, quiet film about a conversation between two men, though, that’s not really the case. Victor doesn’t get to tell his story without interruptions and challenges. From the beginning, viewers are aware that someone else is hiding inside the church—and as Victor takes his time telling the story of the wife he lost and the daughter he loves, there’s certainly no shortage of tension here.
As the action plays out, viewers are left to decide whether Victor is telling the truth—whether he can be trusted. But there’s more than just Victor’s story here. Father Peter also shares some stories from his own life, connecting the two men through the pain in their past and their longing for love and redemption. And even when it’s just the two of them together, opening up about their choices and their regrets—even when the tension is put on hold and the film becomes quieter and more intimate—the stars keep it engaging.
The more these men reveal, though, the more tense and twisted it becomes. Victor is in a difficult situation. He isn’t just looking for someone to hear his confession before he dies; he needs help. And the more tangled these two characters get in each other’s stories, the more intriguing it becomes as it builds up to its quick, explosive conclusion.
It may be short and relatively simple, but Confession is a taut thriller. At times, it feels a little too compressed, but the tension and short runtime ensure that it will easily hold viewers’ attention from start to finish.
Confession opens in theaters on January 21, 2022. Or watch it on demand starting on January 25.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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