Blood

Good idea, good filming, fair/good acting BUT who forgot to cut the film, and was it really necessary to explain the plot down to the last comma for the audience? Both these problems will be fairly solved if approximately one hour is removed, preferably by razors

This film was originally completed in 1998 but the end result was so long and so boring that I still found myself yawning whilst watching it on fast forward. It obviously didn't sell so the producers re-cut it and re-released it in 2000. However, I doubt this act of desperation can undo the tedious self indulgence of this amateur work.

I'll admit right off the bat that there are some very graphic and disturbing scenes involving sexual intercourse and blood-drinking done simultaneously. But those scenes only enhance what is essentially a moving and powerful melodrama.

There are so many themes and ideas involved with this movie, like drug addiction, infidelity, shattered dreams, alienation, doomed love...the list goes on. This is one of a few "horror" movies where in the end, I really felt more sad and depressed for the characters rather than shocked or frightened. The writing and especially the performances are superb and they bring the insanely original and unique premise down to earth, making it perfectly understandable. And they leave enough information of the origin of Lix out during most of the movie so you're allowed to guess and wonder where exactly she came from.

The direction is also done very well. It's stylish, but not too stylish, not too over-the-top. Charly Cantor never once goes for style-over-substance. If I have one complaint about the movie, it's that the scene involving the three junkies coming back for Lix is done a bit carelessly and hustled. But I think that whole subplot might have been unnecessary anyway, so I'm not too hung up on it. The music, done by Erasure's Vince Clarke, is also fantastic. His deep dark synths and mournful piano melodies fit the mood of the movie perfectly, and the songs picked for the soundtrack fit rather nicely as well.

This movie is literally a rare find. On Dec. 30th, 2003, I suddenly found it brand new for rental at a videostore. So hopefully anyone who ever wanted to see this will finally get a chance, or anyone who was never aware of it will be treated to something very special indeed. But I am afraid this will likely stay one of the most underrated and unappreciated (as well as unknown) movies ever made, which is such a shame. My rating: 8/10

I saw this movie at the Fantasia festival here in Montreal. The first five minutes had some promise but then it quickly fell apart into a dreadfully slow and boring "story", which didn't make much sense anyway. I walked out before the end, because no human being can endure over two hours of this. It's too long, nothing happens, it could easily stand to lose an hour (not kidding), without affecting the "plot".

Just to give you an idea, the scenes which were supposed to be scary or disgusting, people in the audience just laughed (half heartedly).

Not scary at all, no suspense (because I just didn't care about any of the characters), and just too long.

STAY AWAY AT ALL COSTS.

I think this film gets somewhat of an unfair review from a lot of people. It isn't the best of the genre, but it is a definite sexually charged and dark thriller that will please an acquired taste. Personally, I feel that if the filmmaker would've spent a little bit more time in developing the story and characters, the final product would've been a lot more interesting as a whole. As I said, the film comes off as more of a thriller than your typical slasher flick. The story tends to lean toward an obscure romantic involvement between the two main characters over her need for blood. Nonetheless, definitely worth checking out if you find the time.

Also, as a side note-- The idea of desiring blood is an age old tale that has been told a thousand times, but there is an obvious influence in this film from David Cronenberg's Rabid. Surpremely sexual, the character is seeking out blood not just for life, but for pleasure as well. Even the music is reminiscent of Rabid.