Blood Frenzy

This movie was not in the least what I expected. With a typical brainless horror title like "Blood Frenzy", I assumed it would just be another one of those countless formulaic slasher films out there. In fact, the only reason I rented this tape was because the video box proudly displayed the distributor's logo in large, conspicuous type: HOLLYWOOD FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT. I thought it was absolutely hilarious that a company whose name implies that their movies are good, clean, wholesome fun for the entire family would have a title like "Blood Frenzy" in their catalog. Upon seeing this, I grabbed the tape and headed to the front of the store, not caring whether the film would be good or not. I just had to see it now.

Blood Frenzy is actually more of a mystery film than a true horror movie, although it does manage to blend the two genres quite nicely. The plot concerns a doctor who takes her six patients, each with serious psychological problems, on a trip to an old, secluded cottage in the Mojave desert. Her intent is to enact daily sessions of confrontational therapy with her patients, free from the usual distractions of the rest of the world. A couple of days later, however, we find that their RV is broken down, the food and water supply has suddenly become exhausted, and the people are being killed off one by one. Who is committing these murders, and how will be able they contact anybody for help?

This movie will really keep you guessing, and I think it's safe to say that even if you are able to correctly guess the identity of the killer, you'll still be satisfied with the ending. It really wraps the story up nicely.

If you ever get the chance to see Blood Frenzy, I hope you decide to take advantage of it. Though it's not particularly scary, it does have a great story, nice special effects, and a cast of believable, well-acted characters. I look forward to seeing more titles from HOLLYWOOD FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT!

A four is generous. This is a mediocre low-budget slasher with poor gore effects (that it inexplicably dwells on, so you really have time to appreciate how unconvincingly rubbery that neck-slashing looks) and dumb characters. The premise is entertaining--a psychiatrist takes a group of patients out to the desert for presumably healing encounter-group-type work--but even by the usual know-nothing standards for such subjects, "Blood Frenzy" really botches it. The characters are all one-note caricatures of various conditions (nymphomania, alcoholism, frigidity, anger management, post- Vietnam PTSD, and what seems to be simply a case of "bitchy lesbian"), and it's ridiculous that anyone would think they could all be treated together. But OK, it's a slasher film, we're not here for realism.

The "name" actor here is Lisa Loring, who plays the lesbian, which in this kind of movie of course means she's a "man-hater" and puts the make on every woman in sight. (She also wears too much makeup that still seems to be perfectly fresh after a couple days' desert camping and various travails...but there I go, looking for realism again.) Hoo man, she is terrible. She starts out yelling and just gets hammier. The other actors are adequate given their silly roles and sometimes sillier dialogue.

You don't expect a lot from a movie like this, but it really does a poor job of building any suspense, delivering shocks, and other horror basics. By comparison "The Hills Have Eyes" is a masterpiece of complex plotting (among other virtues), if we're talking stuck-and-terrorized-in-the-desert movies in general. Why DID I give it a four? Well, you know--we'll all seen worse.

A female psychotherapist and her small group of emotionally troubled patients trek into the middle of the desert(where it's free to film a movie) for some solitude, and a bit of therapeutic soul-purging and brain-picking. Once settled at their destination, members of the group begin to disappear, leaving the others to nervously unravel the mystery while eyeing each-other suspiciously.

A fairly pissant little production, BLOOD FRENZY isn't exactly a marvel of filmmaking genius, but there are scores of truly wretched titles from the slasher canon which make it at least seem somewhat more substantial than it actually is. Formulaic, featureless, and for the most part watchable, this is a nondescript film which serves up the barest meat-and-potatoes provisions and makes zero attempt to distinguish itself with fresh ideas or impressive showmanship.

BLOOD FRENZY should manage to appease most undemanding slash-cinema enthusiasts, but mostly in a tap-water flavored sort of way. 4/10

BLOOD FRENZY is a SOV (shot-on-video) horror film I'd heard lots of good things about, yet after I watched it, I have to say that I feel it is overrated, which might be the first time I've ever said that about a SOV movie!

A psychiatrist takes six of her patients in an RV out in the desert for a little isolation therapy, where each will confront his/her problems in an attempt to fix them. However, someone begins killing them in bloody ways, leaving an old jack-in-the-box as their calling card. Is it someone in the group? Or is it someone else?

BLOOD FRENZY started off strong, yet petered out during the last half or so. One of the film's strong suits is the entertaining and three-dimensional characters. I can't really pinpoint many really likable characters, but as quirky as the bunch was, I thought they were all believable, due, in part, to the strong performances given by the cast.

The writing was above average, and I feel the desert setting is a sadly underused setting in slashers. There's a good amount of bloodshed and some realistic throat slashings, including a really good opening murder.

Unfortunately, BLOOD FRENZY became a little too repetitive for its own good. The murders seemed like they were all the same, and even the characters grew to be a bore. Throughout the film, the tone was serious yet a bit goofy at the same time. During the climactic showdown, it just turns to all out goofiness, which really doesn't work in the film's favor.

The movie also features Lisa Loring (Wednesday from THE ADDAMS FAMILY), who would go on to be in the much more entertaining slasher (this time in the snow!) ICED (1988). As it stands, I'd say it's worth seeking out, but don't expect much out of it.

A Los Angeles psychologist takes six troubled patients (three men and three women) out to an isolated mine in the arid wasteland, but the situation turns ugly when someone's neck is slashed.

"Blood Frenzy" (1987) has an engaging set-up and a unique location for a slasher. While the tone is too exaggerated and mixed with droll humor to take very seriously, the characters are fleshed out enough to make them interesting.

Masculine Tony Montero is effective as a Vietnam Vet with PTSD while petite Lisa Savage is a highlight on the female front. Meanwhile Lisa Loring (Wednesday from The Addams Family) is striking as an adult and very good at playing a biyatch. Actually, she might do it too well, not to mention she hams it up a little too much in the last act.

An eye-rolling sapphic episode in a dirty cave (off camera, for the most part) dooms any possibility of taking the flick seriously. Why Sure! Still, there are some positives if you like 80's slashers and don't mind low-budget ones released direct-to-video. Think "Sands of the Kalahari" if it were a low-rent slasher.

The film runs 1 hour, 27 minutes, and was shot entirely on location at Calico Mines, Barstow, SoCal, which is a 2-hour drive northeast of Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert.

GRADE: C.