An overly dramatic but well-produced and well-acted thriller that lumps together in one narrative all the concerns, mostly legitimate, that many consumers have about GMOs. It is no wonder that a powerful, paternalistic industry that cloaks itself in secrecy would give rise to such paranoiac visions of our food system. The film touches all the emotional buttons involving the struggle of the powerless individual citizen against the all powerful mega-corporation: the single mother of a sick child, a poor organic farmer, the young idealistic immigrant post-doc; their stories interwoven along with bad guys to boot: the nasty corporate general counsel and GMO cops. While the movie is highly entertaining, I would recommend also seeing the documentaries "Genetic Roulette" and "GMO OMG," which are more informative about the issues. Nevertheless this is a good starting point for those not familiar with GMOs and trying to understand why so many people are against them. It does give an insight into the passions behind the anti-GMO movement, which is not going to go away anytime soon.
38 Reviews
Far Fetched Thriller
wvfempwolford2 July 2022
Intriguing thriller, keeps viewer interested. Beyond that, one has to suspend belief . A bunch of conspiracy theory with unbelievable pursuit by waitress mother. How pervasive ad criminal are GMO companies in protecting their science? Probably not to the extent this film portrays.
Honestly, liked it a lot
richmazurek18 January 2017
I enjoyed the actors and plot . In fact watched it twice over the last 2 months. I am concerned about gmo seeds, and have ready a lot of shady goings on with Monsanto. Seed police , suing farmers into bankruptcy, going after seed washers,lack of real long term studies (been lookin for them) etc, etc.
I see the blanket statements on ads saying " We use all natural healthy ingredients and gmo grown produce which has been found to be perfectly safe as though it were fact? Obama said 7 years ago all gmo would be labeled??
I honestly think it looks just like big tobacco....and later the sugar industry.
I liked the movie sugar coated too.
The movie had action,human interaction and suspense. It was done well, with smooth transitions scene to scene.
I see the blanket statements on ads saying " We use all natural healthy ingredients and gmo grown produce which has been found to be perfectly safe as though it were fact? Obama said 7 years ago all gmo would be labeled??
I honestly think it looks just like big tobacco....and later the sugar industry.
I liked the movie sugar coated too.
The movie had action,human interaction and suspense. It was done well, with smooth transitions scene to scene.
Non-Biased Review
Marc_Action29 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Consumed is a film you're either going to love or hate most likely based on what side of the aisle you stand on when it comes to the GMO controversy. Browsing through the reviews confirms this theory as, not surprisingly, most of the 25+ reviews are either 1-star or 10-star. However, in my unbiased opinion, the movie is neither good nor bad, so there's really no other way to explain the very polarized ratings. So, for the few that don't have a dog in the fight, my review will be an attempt to wade through all the political mumbo jumbo of the other reviews on either side. It will be based solely on the merits of the filmmakers' ability to deliver a suspenseful thriller – nothing more, nothing less. OK, here we go
Consumed follows the story of a single mom in small town Iowa who finds herself taking on the juggernaut Clonestra, a corrupt sustainable agriculture company (a la Monsanto) behind the rise of genetically modified organism (GMO) products around the world, after she suspects her son is developing an allergic reaction to them. And this brief synopsis pretty much sums up the entire movie that carries a moderate 1:35-minute run time. It's monotonous
Thing is, we've seen similar movies like this before that have been done more effectively such as Erin Brockovich (2000) with Julia Roberts and the Insider (1999) with Al Pacino and Russell Crowe.
The film does get by on a half way decent story and Zoe Lister-Jones (Sophie) does a convincing enough job as a scared parent with little resources willing to do anything to protect the health of her child. The bond she shares with her son and mother also play a strong part in the film. And that's a good thing, because little else about the film stands out. For one thing, none of the events that are supposed to build suspense are effective. You never really feel like Sophie is in any real danger when she starts going up against the corrupt Clonestra. You also never really get the feeling that she's going to be able to make any significant difference in the fight against GMOs in the supermarket. She does eventually have a face-to-face standoff with the CEO of Clonestra but there isn't any conclusion to what is supposed to be the climatic point of Consumed. It just felt flat and inauthentic.
In conclusion, Consumed gets by on decent acting, and character development and interaction, but falls short on suspense, entertain value, plausibility, and a satisfying ending. Therefore, I can't really recommend this film but I won't go as far as saying don't watch it. If you do, just don't expect to be CONSUMED by any aspect of it.
Consumed follows the story of a single mom in small town Iowa who finds herself taking on the juggernaut Clonestra, a corrupt sustainable agriculture company (a la Monsanto) behind the rise of genetically modified organism (GMO) products around the world, after she suspects her son is developing an allergic reaction to them. And this brief synopsis pretty much sums up the entire movie that carries a moderate 1:35-minute run time. It's monotonous
Thing is, we've seen similar movies like this before that have been done more effectively such as Erin Brockovich (2000) with Julia Roberts and the Insider (1999) with Al Pacino and Russell Crowe.
The film does get by on a half way decent story and Zoe Lister-Jones (Sophie) does a convincing enough job as a scared parent with little resources willing to do anything to protect the health of her child. The bond she shares with her son and mother also play a strong part in the film. And that's a good thing, because little else about the film stands out. For one thing, none of the events that are supposed to build suspense are effective. You never really feel like Sophie is in any real danger when she starts going up against the corrupt Clonestra. You also never really get the feeling that she's going to be able to make any significant difference in the fight against GMOs in the supermarket. She does eventually have a face-to-face standoff with the CEO of Clonestra but there isn't any conclusion to what is supposed to be the climatic point of Consumed. It just felt flat and inauthentic.
In conclusion, Consumed gets by on decent acting, and character development and interaction, but falls short on suspense, entertain value, plausibility, and a satisfying ending. Therefore, I can't really recommend this film but I won't go as far as saying don't watch it. If you do, just don't expect to be CONSUMED by any aspect of it.
Lacking Any Scientific Reality
emilyhagemeister-8913213 November 2017
This film is rife with examples of fears that are without scientific merit. For a more balanced perspective, I recommend Food Evolution: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6188658/ I'm disappointed to see a list of mainstream and up-and-coming talent in such a scare-tactics film that is so disconnected from reality.
Nothing like what the pro GMO people are saying. Its a good film.
jasonbarnettnz24 March 2016
I wanted to say hey this is actually a good film and it is actually researched. I wanted to see for myself so I went onto pub-med and actually found a whole bunch of studies linking GMOs and Monsanto roundup to autistic behavior, all kinds of allergies and yes even cancer. There are many reputable scientists who are genuinely concerned about the use of modified crops that can handle large amounts of pesticides that end up in the food in bigger numbers than ever before. You are what you eat, and the more we allow pesticides and chemicals like roundup that has been clinically proved to disrupt enzymes and proteins and cause cellular mutations then the worse off we are. There is good hard science backing the stories in this film yet many average people simply don't know this because the corporately owned media does its best to paint GMOs in a positive light. Go on pub-med and search yourself! Itys a shame this film is getting such bad ratings because of "damage control" from fake profiles and just plain old ignorant public who simply have no clue how GMOs are even created and why the science still has a long way to go before its safe. We are creating new toxic proteins and stuff that our bodies don't like or want. You can prove this to yourself, buy some food that you know is GMO, and buy the same kind of food that is organic and then try and feed both to your dog or cat (something they like obviously) and you'll notice that the animals somehow know what is GMO and what is not, they instinctively ALWAYS go for the natural non GMO and leave the GMO product in the bowl. This had been proved also with mice. When mice invade a farm shed they always leave the GMO seeds, wont eat them but they eat everything else. Why? because nature knows best. Also when you feed GMO food to animals they develop much higher cases of abnormalities, swollen glands and have higher cancer rates. This is a scientific fact here. Im not making anything up because I don't need to. Its just that the average public have no idea of these facts because these facts you have to dig deep for because no one in the corporate media will write articles about this. In fact they are paid my agricultural companies to write positive spin about GMOS. This is how it actually is. This is a really important film and if you google it you'll also find out these A list actors also agree about the dangers of GMOs and the feel passionately about it, because they are informed.
Fake facts and ludicrous (conspiracy) theories
m-thomasberger5 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Yes, it's fiction and yes, meant to entertain. And mostly I have nothing against science fiction. But the science part in non-comic book science fiction should at least have something to do with real world science. This story doesn't. Contrary to common perceptions all serious evaluations of GMOs show that they pose no threat to human health or to the environment. Yes, GMO seeds are developed by corporations, but so are all other seeds for agriculture, even for organic farming. I also dislike films with an agenda, and this film has one. Additionally and unfortunately the story lines and the characters are trite and predictable, and not even the really dedicated acting can salvage this botched effort.
Well Done
jtopcats23 March 2016
This movie is comprised of extremely useful information. There are many excellent documentaries alike. People need to know what the industry is doing behind closed doors and this film opens the doors to what's really happening. I was elated to see that such a film was made and hope there are more to follow. As other have mentions, I see the one star reviewers. I wonder if they even watched the film. The biotech industry is so evil that it is not inconceivable that they would try to discredit this film. They either work for the industry and are afraid of the inconvenient truth. One reviewer wrote they had a problem coming up with ten lines. Why even leave a review? Moron. I hope this film has a sequel and I hope to see many more like it.
Will this be the stupidest movie you see this year?
floraposteschild13 June 2016
Sophie is a waitress and single mother (and in case you don't feel sorry enough for her, she's also a recovering alcoholic) who sees what no one else sees: her son has a rash -- he's is being poisoned by genetically modified foods! Really. No one else sees this. Thrill as this not-at-all-mentally-ill woman stabs mattresses, breaks into offices, and confronts evil not-Monsanto executives in her search for the truth.
Some say Vaxxed is the most inept and inane movie they have ever seen; others, God Is Not Dead 2. But what about a contender from 2015, which is only now gaining a reputation as a whack-job magnet, Consumed? Oh, sure, those other films are bizarre, manipulative, and out of touch with reality. But do their baddies employ death squads for organic food advocates? Do they star Victor Garber, Danny Glover, and Griffin Dunne, all of whom are getting to old for this sh-t? Wake up, sheeple! This film will be the next online reviewer sensation.
Some say Vaxxed is the most inept and inane movie they have ever seen; others, God Is Not Dead 2. But what about a contender from 2015, which is only now gaining a reputation as a whack-job magnet, Consumed? Oh, sure, those other films are bizarre, manipulative, and out of touch with reality. But do their baddies employ death squads for organic food advocates? Do they star Victor Garber, Danny Glover, and Griffin Dunne, all of whom are getting to old for this sh-t? Wake up, sheeple! This film will be the next online reviewer sensation.
A misinformed anti-GMO tract pretending to be a "thriller"
jim-5350717 September 2016
Consumed, a film by Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister-Jones stars Lister- Jones as a single mom barely holding it together as she tries find out why her son has developed mysterious symptoms. Needless to say, the cause turns out to be "GMOs" even though not a single verifiable instance of any human or animal reaction to transgenic crops has ever been reported. The film contains every single anti-GMO trope you have ever heard, all of them wrong.
Wein describes his film as a "political thriller," but "science fiction" might be a better label. The trouble is that good science fiction starts with actual science and extends it plausibly. This movie starts with bad science fears and continually hits you over the head with them. There has never been any reported evidence of any ill effect on humans or animals by any bio tech crop.
The idea that "GMOs" are an ingredient rather than a breeding technique pervades the movie. And the mantra that there have "never been any human tests" repeats several times. Foods are never tested on humans, (as Katiraee explains) because you cannot control a human diet the way you can control lab animals' diets. The films also claims that there are only 90 day studies done and no long term studies have been done. This contradicts the well-known study by Snell and Bernheim, which did review many long term studies and concluded the 90-day studies were indeed sufficient. And, of course, van Eenenaam and Young's billion animal retrospective feeding study clearly show that there are no long term effects on using GM versus non-GM animals feeds.
Wein describes his film as a "political thriller," but "science fiction" might be a better label. The trouble is that good science fiction starts with actual science and extends it plausibly. This movie starts with bad science fears and continually hits you over the head with them. There has never been any reported evidence of any ill effect on humans or animals by any bio tech crop.
The idea that "GMOs" are an ingredient rather than a breeding technique pervades the movie. And the mantra that there have "never been any human tests" repeats several times. Foods are never tested on humans, (as Katiraee explains) because you cannot control a human diet the way you can control lab animals' diets. The films also claims that there are only 90 day studies done and no long term studies have been done. This contradicts the well-known study by Snell and Bernheim, which did review many long term studies and concluded the 90-day studies were indeed sufficient. And, of course, van Eenenaam and Young's billion animal retrospective feeding study clearly show that there are no long term effects on using GM versus non-GM animals feeds.
Anti-Science Disguised as Public Awareness
ted_corning26 February 2016
This movie is bad on so many levels, this is the anti-GMO movements "Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas". They play on our sympathies with the concerned mother angle without any real substance behind it other then studies funded by the Organic industry and ant-GMO vs Pro GMO studies with something of a 1:50 ratio.
The type of people who like this movie are the ones that like calling anyone that supports GMO tech as shills which to me is the ultimate irony of this movement. The Conservatives have there Climate Change Deniers, we liberals have the Anti-GMO crowd and if you want to see there Guilt Trip magnum opus, this is defiantly the movie for you.
The type of people who like this movie are the ones that like calling anyone that supports GMO tech as shills which to me is the ultimate irony of this movement. The Conservatives have there Climate Change Deniers, we liberals have the Anti-GMO crowd and if you want to see there Guilt Trip magnum opus, this is defiantly the movie for you.
Excellent film
peterberger20 March 2016
I'm not surprised in the least the Pro Monsanto trolls above who gave the film one star are spewing their propaganda because they don't want people to see this important film that tells the truth. Classic of them to try and make people not see the reality. This film is impressive. It is one of those stories you rarely get to see Hollywood make anymore because they are too busy making giant Superhero movies. This is a subtle and intriguing suspense thriller like those of old. The acting is amazing. This cast is killer. So fun to see Anthony Edwards and Kunal Nayyar act together. I have to say, I was surprised at every turn. Lots of twists and turns along the way. It's great storytelling. Looks STUNNING. Fantastic cinematography for an indie film with lots of beautiful locations. Most importantly, it's about something real. This affects me and my children and I give many thanks to this filmmaker for putting this amazing work out there.
In the finest Goebbels tradition.
Windsun3322 March 2016
I had no plans to watch this, but it showed up on Amazon Prime as a freebie for members one day.
In short, this is just awful. Aside from all the really bad science that others have mentioned, there was so much that simply made ZERO sense. You spend more time facepalming and thinking "who the F*** would ever actually DO that?" than actually paying attention to the movie. Acting was mediocre at best, and the plot was all over the place and full of holes.
And seriously - a farmer refusing to sell to her because she might be an undercover spy for (Monsanto, no doubt)? And why couldn't she just go to her local Walmart and buy organic?
In short, this is just awful. Aside from all the really bad science that others have mentioned, there was so much that simply made ZERO sense. You spend more time facepalming and thinking "who the F*** would ever actually DO that?" than actually paying attention to the movie. Acting was mediocre at best, and the plot was all over the place and full of holes.
And seriously - a farmer refusing to sell to her because she might be an undercover spy for (Monsanto, no doubt)? And why couldn't she just go to her local Walmart and buy organic?
This movie educates and thrills
catchahealthyhabit23 March 2016
The first non documentary that tackles the hot topic of GMO's. The film does a very good job of setting the viewer up who knows little about GMO coming in. I thought the films asked the question "why are there no labels on food that contain gmo's". Simple question that many countries do not have because they label. With Vermont's law taken effect on July 1st it appears that companies are crumbling to the pressure and gmo labels will appear throughout the 50 States. Consumed tells many other stories within the movie, that help explain why GMO's are being thrust upon the American consumer with little science to back up their role. This movie really showed the under belly of how these companies operate to hold down the truth. Connecticut and many other states have labeling laws in effect and this film will help the rest of the population understand why labeling is so important.
Terrible
discripplemation27 February 2016
Don't waste your time. I'm finding it hard to come up with 10 lines of text to describe just how terrible it is. Full of misinformation and outright lies. The plot is beyond laughable. I'm hard pressed to come up with a reason why talented, and in some cases, well known, A list, actors would attach themselves to such a horrendously conceived project. This isn't entertainment, it's political commentary from uneducated food snobs masquerading as entertainment. Billed as a "thriller", watching it left me anything but thrilled. When I want politics, I'll listen to politicians. When I want science, I'll listen to scientists. When I want medical information, I'll listen to doctors. I wanted none of these, and actually didn't get them from this movie.
Plot makes no sense: better for Lifetime movie network
kelsokristen26 February 2016
The plot literally makes no sense. It is a shame that people are going to think that things in this FICTIONAL movie actually happen in real life (there is no GMO corn grown in India currently, Organic certifications didn't exist 30 years ago, a farmer will not be sued for pollen drift, oh yeah and genetically modified foods don't cause illnesses!). The cast was actually intriguing: Danny Glover and Victor Garber are both powerhouses of talent, so I was disappointed when their acting was only average in this film (though that may be due to the material). Aside from the complete inaccuracy of it all, taking it as a purely fictional movie, it might be good for Lifetime movie channel someday.
Movie does nothing for the GMO controversy
professorjeffreypbrown16 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
OK, as most Americans know, GMOs are dangerous, yet not enough time has passed to determine to what extent. Now, as far as the movie is concerned, the dialogue is weak, acting fair, and story line a bit of a stretch. But you've got to love the set up: she's a single mom who's a recovering alcoholic, not much money and her child has a strange health problem that she just can't figure out, until she finds she's up against big business. How original is that? And as far the GMO controversy is concerned, the severity of the problem, the accuracy of the subversive nature of the industry, so on and so forth, all questionable. But as far as this movie adding to the accurate issues regarding GMOs, not much here. Oh, btw, movies are entertainment, and this one was not that entertaining, for all the reasons mentioned above. If you want to know about the issue, read up on it or watch documentaries. Rarely will you find Hollywood ever adding much accuracy in analysis of any issue. And if you want to be entertained, not much of that here.
Brilliant Movie!!!!!
JohnnyGLeafer10 March 2016
This movie is amazing even though there are a lot of Pro-GMO Monsanto propagandists trying to take this film down. Great acting, important story, it had me on the edge of my seat. Everyone needs to see this film. It delves into what is happening with farmers and scientists and GMOs in such depth. So much corporate manipulation of our food supply and it's crazy they are now genetically engineering salmon!! When will it stop?! Definitely see this film. It wakes you up. It's little films like these that get people asking questions. Like what is this stuff doing to the environment and our health. They keep it very even sided too, and show both arguments. They want to have a dialogue and not force people to think how they think. I've never seen a thriller like this before. Very interesting and great writing. So well researched. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
1, 10, or not crazy, which one are you?
sjschluet9 September 2022
Apparently you'll be likely to either see an evil corporation and a heroic hard-working mom, or you see an unrealistically portrayed corporation and a mom on the brink of instability and willing to follow the first conspiracy theory she finds.
If you want to watch either of those movies, great, this is for you-- you can give it a 10 if you're in the first camp, or fume and give it a 1 if you're in the second. If you're a bit more sane and think that reality is not as straightforward as either of these cases, then this movie will probably be pretty annoying and probably give it something between a 3 and a 6.
I gave it a 3 because I thought it was somewhat blah in the action and tension. Like others have said, you don't really feel any threat, and you don't feel terribly satisfied by what is supposed to be the climactic scene.
I'd say a couple of interesting moments, but mostly annoying and disappointing overall.
If you want to watch either of those movies, great, this is for you-- you can give it a 10 if you're in the first camp, or fume and give it a 1 if you're in the second. If you're a bit more sane and think that reality is not as straightforward as either of these cases, then this movie will probably be pretty annoying and probably give it something between a 3 and a 6.
I gave it a 3 because I thought it was somewhat blah in the action and tension. Like others have said, you don't really feel any threat, and you don't feel terribly satisfied by what is supposed to be the climactic scene.
I'd say a couple of interesting moments, but mostly annoying and disappointing overall.
Great movie that exposes GMO for what it is.Very informative.
burtrobin24 March 2016
Great movie. The rating is an indication of how naive and gullible the general population is about GMOs.Why do someone find it hard to believe that playing with genes and consuming that wouldn't affect their body? I have worked with GMOs and can say that the portrayal in the movie is very close to reality. Amazing movie and everyone must see it. This must be made compulsory in all schools. The plot revolves around a very plausible mother who tries to find the cause of her son's disease. It also includes the lies spread by GMO giants in exploiting Asia.Acting could have been better,but it is compensated by the depth of movie, questions it raises and truth it brings to main stream media.
Good and bad
jmgq-096108 July 2022
Amazing Political Thriller!
chrisknapperking19 March 2016
Wow. This film looks amazing. So happy these filmmakers chose to make the first narrative movie about GMOs. I learned a lot from this article. I cannot believe GMOs are not labeled and in over 80% of the processed food we eat. This feels unfair. Why shouldn't we know what we're eating? Very deceptive. We need federal labels. So sad to learn about all the small farmers being sued by biotech corporations over their seeds. What's up with that?! Can't you just let the farmers be, man!?! Why do they have to rebuy their seeds every year and more toxic chemicals when the weeds become resistant? Oh, I know! MONEY! Very happy this film is getting out there.... will share with all my friends! Thank you CONSUMED!
IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH - This is a must watch.
oliviatowning30 May 2016
This film is just phenomenal. It's rather eye opening and chilling at times. The film is well research and unearths the serious issues surrounding GMO's in the USA. It is the only first world country that does not label GMO's. This people shows the power to the people. Do your own research, speak up and demand transparency. I'm lucky to live in Australia where labeling is mandatory. BUY ORGANIC WHERE POSSIBLE. I love that they have utilized a film medium, building up a great character profile. All in all, i'm very impressed with this amazing film. It's Erin Brockovich meets the health world. Its an amazing cast and a very emotional story line. Share it around and watch it with your family and friends. This film uncovers issues that are being covered up.
Whoever buys D.C., owns D.C..
mars-947664 April 2016
Although my title refers to the b i o t e c h(This review site sensors the non-spaced word b i o t e c h) influence in Washington, the movie neglects to go into this in detail. However, I found it involving and the characters were engaging. The lead roll played by Zoe Lister-Jones, was believable, as were Danny Glover, Anthony Edwards, and Kunal Nayyar of The Big Bang Theory. Although it feels like a TV movie, the story line and character development kept my attention throughout, and I loved the ending! Not a perfect thriller, but certainly much better than some of the low ratings we see here. If the b i o t e c h shills did not vote, the current rating would of course be higher, which is why my score is an solid 8 in attempt to offset the artificial and misleading ratings.
So far in 2016, Pharmaceuticals / Health Products spent $21,045,569 with 3.2 Billion for it's lobby efforts, while the GM industry alone spent $165,544 to influence bipartisan legislation. Monsanto has invested $74,252,724 since 1998 for lobbying in Washington. Look up OpenSecrets.
I don't know.. you tell me, if your product is so good, then why bribe our so called law makers for favorable outcomes?
So far in 2016, Pharmaceuticals / Health Products spent $21,045,569 with 3.2 Billion for it's lobby efforts, while the GM industry alone spent $165,544 to influence bipartisan legislation. Monsanto has invested $74,252,724 since 1998 for lobbying in Washington. Look up OpenSecrets.
I don't know.. you tell me, if your product is so good, then why bribe our so called law makers for favorable outcomes?
Brilliant!!
ms-donnabray27 May 2016
Don't pay attention to the 1 star reviews. This movie was RIVETING. I only started hearing about GMOs a few years ago. I am a big believer in natural remedies and in whole body health. I started doing research, as research is my forte in the work that I do for a living. I strive to keep an open mind, think outside of the box, and I consider the source of everything that I read in order to form conclusions. The biggest conclusion that I reached on the topic of GMO food safety is that while the companies who are patenting this technology CLAIM that the food is safe, there is absolutely NO research that proves the safety of consuming these modified organisms that are present in nearly everything that we consume. I was interested in seeing this movie in the theaters but it was unavailable in my area. I purchased the film when it became available in streaming format. That was about 2 months ago. To be honest, I was not expecting very much from the movie. The reason that I purchased it was more out of support for the whole "getting the word out" to the public to question what they are told and to do their own research. I finally sat down to watch the film today. IMHO, the movie was riveting. I was glued to my seat. It was very well acted and directed. The facts presented (in a fictional manner) were spot on to what is happening in the industry today. If you're curious, watch it. When you watch it, you will have questions and you will want answers. Do your own research. Think critically.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
