Blood Craft

After her father passes away, a woman returns to her childhood home and reconnects with her estranged sister which eventually causes them to use their techniques to raise his spirit and seek retribution by placing it into a body and torturing it, only to question their purpose when it goes too far.

This here was a decent enough effort. One of the bright spots here is a fine first hour that deals with the sisterly relationship at the forefront. Obviously built around the two of them reconnecting based on the circumstances and getting over the betrayal that kept them apart, the chance to see the two getting reacquainted or the flashbacks to their childhood showing their training in witchcraft while trying to survive their crazed father's religious antics. This is all well-handled and gives a sense of compassion to them as this goes about setting up the later half, fueling their need for witchcraft after getting all these elements covered. Their turn towards witchcraft, however troublesome their rationale might be, the scene offers a lot to like. Taking their hatred to a logical end as they head out to dig up the body and use it for their ritual sparks not only the body being removed and taken to the bedroom where the spell they enact has plenty to like. There's some fun to be had with the objects flying around and supernational action that signals something's going on, and the bright colors of the scene featuring their ritual setup and the spiritual energy flying around all create a strong, chilling presence. The main guise of the film, with the two dealing a series of fine witchcraft-based torture that is brutal, graphic and based nicely on a sympathetic bent for the girls, giving this one some really enjoyable aspects. That said, there are some big flaws within here. One of the main issues here is the sloppy and scattered second half that features several curious plot points. There's no real point here for the home invasion tactic that serves simply to provide a new body to toy with since there's a breal between the ritual and them taking him outas that lull in the action doesn't really do the film any favors as this could've been done in different manners with different beats. As well, there's also the confusion throughout here as to what happened to the spirit they summon who is either possessing the girls or the house the way they act at times, from curious lesbian leanings they never acknowledge to seeing his spirit appearing around the house that may be hallucinations that point to both causes throughout here. All told, this aspect also ties into the films other big issue in its sedate and generally bland pacing. The tempo here feels off with the curious addition of the home invasion after they've raised the spirit, and that's carried over from what happens in the first half where the film struggles to get going. Since the sisters have to reconnect with each other following their time apart, this is wholly reasoinable and expected but the film takes on a slightly too sedate pacing for the type of torture they inflict later which is really jarring coming from that setup. Even the finale comes up somewhat oddly in that the mental torture he inflicts on them stops the enjoyable physical torture. It's not enough to doom the film but is enough to lower it somewhat.

Rated R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

"Blood Craft" mixes elements of the occult with deeper aspects of human tragedy, and reconciliation. The story plays with this in a chilling character study of scar tissue and a desire for closure. It starts with a dark, gritty, fetish kick and impulsively you are forced to really face the protagonist in a very"unpolished" state. The intention of both the director and the story becomes clearer later in the film. "Where you are in life is relative to your past".

"Blood Craft" is far from the typical witchcraft movie. There are these familiar tropes of some really bad guys, black magic, and revenge, Bressack's story goes deeper. There is human suffering, victimization, and pain as a catalyst. And in classic fashion and true to his nature, James Cullen Bressack explores those elements in harsh flourescent light, as blunt and uncomfortable as the truth.

The acting is palatable for the most part, the lead seems to draw emotion from a sort of 'shell-shocked' pool of survivor's guilt and doesn't really change gears, but the second lead is a disturbing, uneasy mix of "victim / devil's advocate, very convincing. A plus for "Blood Craft" is the fact that given the weight of the material woven into this supernatural nightmare, all the cast do great at delivering.

The special effects mix both practical and CGI. And to its detriment, works nicely, minus a couple of moments. The horror aspects are visceral and full of delicious occult affectations that offer enough eye candy for the fan of witchy horror. The film is low budget in both style and implementation. The cinematography is great and the music score fits perfectly with the heavy nature and dark overture of the picture. Now it works on a low budget scale so don't go in expecting an updated retelling of "The Craft". Overall I say check it out, it's classic Bressack filmmaking.

Seen a couple of the directors films, great efforts for an amateur filmmaker, usually using controversial subject matter to help sell the film. This is a cliche ridden film that really isn't worth the time. You really find yourself not feeling any sympathy for the sisters at all.

Some bad props.......the magic book looks like drawn by a three year old!? One Sister in the many (confusing) flashbacks seems to age quicker than the other by a few years, for some reason a nasty priest has married a witch?, The older sister....who also helped write the screenplay has far too much obvious plastic surgery and just looks freakish with huge cheeks and lips ......she is supposed to be a sexy dancer!? But she looks too old to be in this role (Whitney dressed as Britney) body is nice but what has she done to her face!? Acting is wooden although the vicar really gets into his role as a sadist, and the county clerk's Sheriff father is a great actor, not used enough, the story non sensical and you will find yourself talking at the screen saying wtf!? When they do stupid things........why hold a severed ear to own ear when supposed to be talking to it?? Add to that pointless incest lesbian kiss scene which added nothing to the lazy story. Let's not even mention the supposed SFX 😁 if it was gorier it would have added a star but they are dime store level after FX . ..... The coat hanger scene had promise but became unintentionally amusing.

Some of the camera work is great, and the director definitely has talent, this just seems like was a case of wrong cast and weak script with a cliche story. Given the right story and better cast he may be one director to watch.

Oh and to the other reviewer ...it's spelt "soul" 😁

The dialogue is clunky and the story just doesn't make sense. The characters' motivations are all over the place and sometimes nonsensical. I feel like there could have been a decent story here but the script would have to be almost completely rewritten. I agree with other reviewers that the acting and special effects aren't great but it's nothing compared to how bad the writing is.

One shall be very careful giving a film 1 star worthyness, but the confusing plot and story makes me intimidated to do so, but i give 2 for the try. its a kind of horror movie that relapses, and showing the 2 mains life in retrospect, to tell why they have become such brittle soles. its a crooked pastor, and his supernatural powered wife, and their 2 daughters , in life and death, tears and smiles, angst and emotions, and fear and panic.

for short you can tell that their soles are damaged by abuse and religous fear, and the nightmare seems to never end. the acting are at times passable, but some of the cast seems very odd and uncomfortable in front of the camera, and therefore very stiff dialouges and unconvincing acting, makes you more occupied by the goofy acting than the story they are trying to tell.

the production have some nice props and settings,, and some of the sections were the past is told, but the fast and numerous and frequent shifts between past and present interupts the float of the plot.i did never connect with the sole of the story and therefore , as the grumpy old man i am,will not recommend this flick, unless you have the ability to interpret and analyse the disorders of psyciatrics, that turmoils the mains. its a try, but i wont rewatch this unless i get a good interpretation to the story that may put the spotlight in another angle.