In 1692, in the Ipswich Colony of Massachusetts, five families with untold power formed a covenant of silence. One family, lusting for more, was banished; their bloodline disappearing without a trace - until now. This thriller tells the story of the Sons of Ipswich, four young students at the elite Spencer Academy who are bound by their sacred ancestry. As descendants of the original families who settled in Ipswich Colony in the 1600's, the boys have all been born with special powers. When the body of a dead student is discovered after a party, secrets begin to unravel which threaten to break the covenant of silence that has protected their families for hundreds of years.

GQ types with bronzed bods and washboard abs, coupled with nubile nymphettes in various stages of undress. Ah yes. Renny Harlin, the hack Finnish filmmaker who did "Exorcist: The Beginning" and other equally laughable films, has gone and outdone himself this time with "The Covenant", a hip warlock story complete with a slamming rock soundtrack about four male model-types juggling schoolwork, hormonal urges and their inherited superpowers while boarding at the conveniently co-ed Spenser Academy.

The school is suitably sprawling enough, a Gothic structure with plenty of dark corners, creepy corridors and huge deserted bathrooms perfect for girls to take their showers in alone at 2 in the morning... but that's where the scare factors end. In short, "The Covenant" is not frightening at all, but it has its fair share of body parts - belonging to scantily-clad girls and guys.

The movie begins ominously enough - ominously for the audience expecting an intelligent horror movie, that is - as after a nonsensical prologue (in ancient scribe) about "The Power", "Ascension" and "The Book of Damnation", we are immediately introduced to our four handsome teens. They are in the woods in the middle of the night, and though they who have been sworn to secrecy about their powers, none of them have qualms about 'flying off' 300-ft cliff drops to join a high school rave party going on at the bottom. The leader of the cool foursome is sensitive Caleb (Steven Strait), blond Reid (Toby Hemingway), long-haired Pogue (Taylor Kitsch) and the 'very quiet by virtue of not having a speaking part' Tyler (Chace Crawford). These boys, apparently, are the Sons of Ipswich, descendants of a group of warlocks who escaped the Salem witch-hunt back in 1692. Endowed with extraordinary powers such as lifting girls' skirts for a peek underneath, elevating cars to dodge the police and then bringing them crashing back down, plus other feats of prankish magic, the four sons are each eagerly awaiting their 'ascension' to full power when they turn 18.

Of course, they all know they are not supposed to break the covenant of silence their fathers and forefathers formed way-back-when for obvious reasons. But today, in this age of cellphones and hot mustangs (and witch trails being such a forgotten history), keeping a secret is a problem; particularly when the power is so seductive and addictive, and you can so impress your girlfriend with it. But there's a price. Every time you use the power, you age like nobody's business. Caleb's father who is just 44 is as gnarled as 108.

Now Caleb, the oldest of the four, is about to turn 18. At his mansion of a home, his alcoholic mother Evelyn (Wendy Crewson) bemoans her son's fate and advises him not to use his powers indiscriminately, lest he follows his father's fate. Meanwhile, the good son is attracted to the new hottie at school, Sarah (Laura Ramsey). They fall in love and it becomes the subplot.

Suddenly Chase Collins (Sebastian Stan) appears. Friendly and charming, he at once gravitates towards our four hunks. Soon a student dies, spectres and ghouls appear and a dark threat looms over the heads of the Sons of Ipswich. Is Chase the long-lost fifth descendent of the Sons of Ipswich who, seduced by the dark side, wants Caleb's powers?

Go and find out. For despite my slightly mocking tone in this review, "The Covenant" is a highly watchable film! Apart from some really nifty special effects on spiders, mirrors, energy balls and car crashes, there are some really picturesque scenes of the countryside too and a climactic fight scene you'll probably enjoy. Like I said, Renny Harlin has really outdone himself this time. You may even get a sequel.