BloodRayne: The Third Reich

Uwe Boll strikes again. "The Third Reich" is the third film in the "Bloodrayne" franchise set this time in Europe during WW2. What drew me in wasn't that I was a fan of the films or even Boll, but the concept of a war torn backdrop with Nazis tackling the supernatural in the shape of a vampire. Even with a bad reputation, these premises I would gladly take the risk. However "The Third Reich" was a risk not worth taking. In 1943 Europe, during WW2 Rayne and a group of resistance fighters take on Nazi commandant Ekart Brand turned day-walker, who plan to grant Hitler immortality. While I was mildly amused by first two films, this entry was utterly dull with a constantly stilted, if rambling script with too little action to compensate it. Boy did Clint Howard's German scientist have plenty to say, very laborious too. For most part it's talky and with such a daft and lazy script (these characters sure do like to use phrases and sayings), best little was said, but Boll thought otherwise. It just meanders from one shot to another. Natassia Malthe returns as Rayne, rather sexed-up (just look at her outfit) oozing with confidence and angst, but a little more whinny than I remembered. Again her dialogues were often cringe-like, but when it came to the action choreography, her sword skills do deliver on the mobility and carnage. Although the gun combats, felt sluggish in its staginess. Also she does get her gear off, where Boll throws in random lesbian eroticism. Michael Pare monstrously hams it up as the German commandant who's turned by Rayne. Interesting concept, which can't hide the fact it's on the cheap and downright junky. Gotta love Rayne's nightmare sequence involving Hitler.

"F**king Nazis."

Oh my god! What went wrong here? The first "Bloodrayne" movie was actually quite good. Then part 2 came out, and it was a notch down the ladder. Now this "Bloodrayne: The Third Reich" is out, and it is about to hit rock bottom! The story in the movie is actually good enough, most parts of it anyway. There were certain aspects of the movie that was just too corny and too unnecessary.

Alright, well lets delve into the acting. For most parts the acting was good enough, but then in the opposite end there was so really horrendous acting as well. Clint Howard (playing doctor Mangler), words doesn't even begin to describe his performance. It was like watching a leech trying to scale a wall, it was dull and uninspiring. The lead role of Rayne, was played by Natassia Malthe. Her acting was adequate, but come on, we all know why she was hired for this. She is hot and kicks ass, and that pretty much sums it up.

Set in the period of the 1940's, during World War II, you are wondering why the Germans in the movie are all speaking English. I hate that in movies, get into character and have the Germans speak German. It just works on a grander scale. Having them speak semi-broken English with a flatulent accent, not so much. That really brought the movie down a notch for me.

Something else that brought down the movie, was Rayne's costume. Now, sure it was stunningly hot and sexy. But this is the 1940's, no one wore that kind of outfit back then, vampire or human! That was just over the top, and it really brought the movie down. It was out of place and time! Don't just have a costume in a movie because it looks hot, it is just too lame! As for the German's costume, well hats off for that, lots of nice touches and details there. So that worked well enough.

Another thing that shouldn't have made it to the movie was the lesbian love scene. Come on! Most people don't want to watch that! It was too much! And again, this was the 1940's, I am pretty sure people weren't open-minded as people are today. Again, it just seemed out of place and almost turned the movie into a soft-core porn. That was just too much!

One thing that did work for the movie, however, was the sets and the details put into the sets. It was like I would believe the 40's Germany would be like, and the emotional state that the country had would be like.

For a movie in the Bloodrayne legacy, Uwe Boll managed to take that whole concept and totally screw it up. The end result of this movie was bad! I didn't even make it to the end. I gave up about two-thirds into the movie. I was fed up with its tacky nonsense. And I had looked forward to this, liking the first part, so I thought it had to be better than part 2, but no, I was disappointed.

Uwe Boll have some good movies to his name, and also some bad movies; "Bloodrayne: The Third Reich" adds to the list of bad movies! If you like watching a woman in hot (totally out of the time period) costume and with way too much cleavage going on, then this movie might be something for you though.

That very thought was going through my head when I rented this cinematic excrement. Nazis are my favourite bad guys and this seemed like a promising take on a good formula. In short, the story was vapid and the acting was awful. They threw in some sex to titillate, but all it did was make me angry. The mad doctor is over the top yet not in a good way and he was stupid to boot. The lead Nazi was an acceptable villain, but only because his acting was not painful and he was a Nazi. The heroine seemed rather one dimensional and devoid of life (which I think was the "actress'" fault rather than the writers' or even intentional). The heroine, by the way, never actually wears those painted on "pants". Ever. Sorry. This movie is neither bad enough to be good nor is it passable as late night brain dead viewing. I should have known to save my $1.02 when I saw the cover. What can I say: I have a weakness for dead Nazis and shapely hips.

Going into this movie I had only seen the first Bloodrayne movie which I didn't mind because there was so much action. Bloodrayne: The Third Reich is once again about action, but sadly the action scenes are way to short and there is just not enough in them. There was actually one action scene that came out of no where and the time could have been used better. The acting was sub par with some laugh out loud moments because of both the script and the acting, especially the last line in the movie. I like how the movie didn't go overboard with gore like the first movie.

The movie without the credits runs 1hr 12min director's cut, which shows how the movie could have been made a lot better if someone put more time into the script. I wouldn't recommend this movie because it just doesn't pack a punch. The script does have humor that isn't witty, but you still get a laugh because it is so random. If you want something to waste your time with then go ahead and rent it, but just don't buy it.

After buying the film and watching it I cant help thinking that I wasted my money unfortunately. Overall the film had a good script and so much potential but was sorely let down by the director and wardrobe. The actors were good so it is not their fault that the film seems like it was shot in space as it lacks atmosphere.

This is set during the 2nd world war so you would think that a vampire wearing a modern,tailor cut leather trenchcoat sporting tribal graphics coupled with undergarments from Ann Summers, would be a little out of keeping with the clothes of that era. Did i mention the red streaks through the hair? The other costumes are passable but the wardrobe department were definitely not up to the task overall.

The camera angles are very one dimensional and you get the feeling that the directors imagination was on holiday when working on this film. It feels like the film is shot from a distance and their is no interaction between the characters, giving them a chance to express themselves fully. There is also a severe lack of musical accompanyment to any of the scenes so you get no sense of build up or excitement which makes it very flat.

It is a real shame as this could have been up there with the greats of vampire films but they should have given the job of director to someone else...anyone else.