Greetings And Salutations, and welcome to my review of Rocktober Blood; here's the breakdown of my ratings:
Story: 0.50
Direction: 1.00
Pace: 1.00
Acting: 1.25
Enjoyment: 1.50
TOTAL: 5.25 out of 10.00
As "Leave your brains at the door" movies go, Rocktober Blood is one of the better ones. And it comes down to a single simple reason - the Rock'N'Roll man! The Rock'N'Roll!
Regrettably, everything else is forgettable folderol. The tale the writing team of Ferd and Beverly Sebastian tell is that of Rock God, Billy "Eye" Harper. After the opening credits roll, we watch as Billy slaughters the help at the recording studio. The peculiar thing is he doesn't kill anyone of import. It would've been excellent if they could've added some backstory to this character. He appears to be your stereotypical Music Daeva. Then he's all stabby-stabby - why? Well, forget the reasons because the Sebastians don't proffer this information. But don't worry because he gets his just deserts for these dastardly deeds and is summerily tried, judged, and executed. But as with most films of this ilk, death is far from the end, and two years later, as Rocktober Blood prepare for their concert, Billy slashes his way back on stage. I liked this concept, but it needed more weight to its characterisations. Most individuals are a tad above two-dimensional, but you're not empathetic towards them. The story feels cobbled together to push the band and the record label - owned by The Sebastians (unless I misread the end credits).
It's Beverly who then takes the director's chair. And though her direction isn't terrible, it is on the average side. When you think the end segment of the movie is a rock concert, I would've considered handing over the reins to a Music Video director. Some of those guys and gals possessed a decent imagination and creativity, but most of all, they were adept at the quick cut to boost up the pace of the video. And that is the one noticeable downside to Rocktober Blood; the tempo is too slow. It needed to be fast and exciting, like the music the band blasted out - and slower for the stalking scenes. Otherwise, she makes good use of her sets, locations, and lighting. And the final shot is a pure money shot.
The cast is average. None are outstanding, and most rest on the verge of going wooden. But when Trey Loren as Billy "Eye" Harper opens his mouth and wails, angels' ears bleed. That's if it's Loren who's singing. Another plus is The Band. Because if Loren can sing, The Band can play.
On the whole, this Dark Thriller isn't too thrilling until The Band Plays On. As such, Rocktober Blood is a film for 80s Metal Heads - of which I can proudly say, I Am One. So it's no wonder this flick has found a place in my Rock'N'Roul soul. But I can understand it's not everybody's cup of cha.
Bill-y, Bill-y, Bill-y, Bill-y. I'm glad you're back, but before you carve your signature across my chest with that mike stand, take a look at my IMDb lists - Killer Thriller Chillers and Guilty Pleasures and see where I rated Rocktober Blood. Okay, Billy! Carve away!
Take Care & Stay Well.
