Bled (2009)

Pretty Good

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Admirable film.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

As a vampire aficionado, I always like to check out a new film in the genre. I saw Bled last night on Comcast on demand for free, and I was pleasantly surprised. This film had a new take on it that was fresh and interesting. I just watched it for the third time and really love the direction by Hutson, the screenplay by Essex, and the production by Allard. For a B movie this was excellent. I can't even make it through most B movies once, so three times is quite a record. I have to say that the addiction subtext, the "Lovecraftian" parallel universe, and the question of demonic possession, and the tragic love story definitely elevated the film. This was a Jungian nightmare! It also has something I have missed from many recent vampire films: eroticism. True eroticism is one of the reasons I love vampire stories so much because of my early exposure to Dark Shadows and of course Dracula. I guess you could say the first time I read Dracula it also coincided with my own sexual awakening so this movie definitely filled the bill for me! So many recent vampire films are just gore and soft porn without a substantial plot or even passable acting. This had them all. The acting, direction, production, editing and score were great considering the low budget they had to work with! This is definitely an A1 B movie for the more cerebral horror fans!!!But I don't think I would have enjoyed this movie quite as much without Chris Ivan Cevic!!! A STAR is BORN! This guy just lights up the screen! Not only is he incredibly handsome, sexy as hell, and drop dead gorgeous: He's also a good actor! If anyone in Hollywood actually reads this: HIRE THIS GUY!!! I can see him in romantic comedies, action flicks and anything in between! This guy has got that indefinable "IT," and he makes the movie immensely more enjoyable. Trust me....

I caught this movie on the Horror Channel and was quite impressed by the film's Gothic atmosphere and tone. As a big fan of all things vampire related, I am always happy to see a new variation of the vampire mythos, in this case, a ghoul-like creature residing in a Lovecraftian other dimension. The director has done a brilliant job of conveying the dark mood of the subject, using the decadent art scene as a backdrop to what is essentially a tale of love spanning time and space- the pure love of friendship opposed to the lust for blood and life by the vampires in the story. The characters in the story are transported to another dimension by the means of a mind-altering substance, where a shape-shifting vampire creature appears to grant them their hearts desires, whilst draining them of their life essence. There are some analogies to drug addiction and loss of control, and how this affects a group of friends in an artistic circle. I enjoyed watching the 2 main male characters in the story, Chris Ivan Cevic and Alex Petrovich, who were very attractive hunks, always a plus point in a vampire story for the female viewers! The special effects make up and creature effects were well done, and the set design of the vampire's dimension was very effective. All in all, an enjoyable take on vampire myths, and recommended for anyone who likes their vampires with some intelligence and not just action. The only thing missing to make it even better would have been a bit more eroticism and nudity, as it would have suited the plot and themes.

Pretentious horror film that looks like a soap opera gone goth about a drug that send you to a fantasy world where strange creatures lurk. The film has some good imagery but its odd mix of whats real and whats not doesn't go anywhere. Worse are the vague pronouncements in voice over from one of the characters. It seems to herald a more serious, more meaningful film, but I don't think they even got into the serious or meaningful territory to begin with so trying to over sell the meaning comes off silly. There isn't a great deal to say, people talk, take drugs have visions...they talks some more. Its not bad so much as pointless and dull. The dull is the sin here and the reason you'll want to avoid this.

The thing that's truly terrifying about this is that the filmmakers thought they were making something intelligent and sexy. Instead they made probably the stupidest horror picture of the year!This movie starts with a bunch of art snob friends at a gallery. This trashy European weirdo walks up and starts talking pretentious fruitiness to the main character, sounding like he just walked out of an episode of Dark Shadows. He then offers her up some stick to smoke(yes, a freakin' stick), which she eagerly agrees! He picks off some red crap and puts it in a spoon for her to freebase! If this ever happens to you in real life, don't do it!She's transported to some weird wannabe Jean Rollin netherworld that's supposed to be sexy but isn't, where there's this thing that looks like a rotted creature from the black lagoon!Soon she turns all her artsy sleazeball friends onto her new form of supernatural crack. No matter how much these idiots freak out and turn blue they can't leave it the hell alone. At one point she even makes out with the rotten creature!After the final battle and the stupid woman is vaporized or whatever, the so called hero is left alone to pack up his copy of Michael Moore's Dude Where's My Country and can't resist smoking that stick one more time to try to rescue his moron lady friend. What a dope.Rates four stars for sheer unintentional humor.