Thursday, September 09, 2010

Blood River and Punishing Sins: A Movie Review

*Here be spoilers.

Director: Adam Mason.

Writers: Adam Mason and Simon Boyes.

Blood River is a film from long time writing Simon Boyes and Adam Mason. These two filmmakers have collaborated on The Devil's Chair, Broken and this latest effort Blood River. This film was recently released in the UK on DVD as of July 19th, with a release on video-on-demand through Gravitas Ventures now e.g. AT&T, Charter and Verizon (a full list below). Blood River was shot in and around the deserts of Los Angeles and Mason, with Boyes tackle existential questions like: what qualifies as a sin, and what is a suitable punishment for an identified sin? Taking scripture from the Old Testament, the film turns one couple against each other in a tense test of right and wrong.

Clark and Summer are two holiday travellers en route to Summer's parents house. Here they will announce her pregnancy. However, a spiritual being intervenes and puts Clark on trial for misdeeds, which are only ever alluded to. Clark's guilt is left to the viewer.

Mason tackles some universal questions here, but his answers are brutal in nature and brought about through divine intervention. Clark is accused by the angel Joseph, a likely reference to Joseph and the coat of many colours, of killing Summer's son Benny. This conclusion is brought about from the mysterious body shown in the trunk, the many times Benny is referenced by Joseph, and the inclusion of a picture of Benny in one scene. Clark has killed Benny before the trip for unknown reasons and his (Clark's) execution is a just one according to the Old Testament's proverb: "an eye for an eye" (Ex. 21:23, 24; Lev. 24:19, 20; and Deut. 19:21). Where you sit on the topic of child killing will be provoked by the final bloody scenes.

The introduction of religious motifs is really what makes Mason's low budget number, Blood River, stand out, along with the character acting. The cast is kept to a minimum and includes only three people. So, the majority of the film must be carried by actors Ian Duncan, Tess Panzer, and Andrew Howard; their delivery and dialogue is what amplifies Mason's writing. Music, set pieces - including hundreds of wooden crosses, scripture related by Joseph and the outlining of sins e.g. apathy are elements that bring Mason's message to the forefront, which is: "he has some truly troubling things to say about the nature of evil, the nature of sin, and the consequences that it carries" (Twitch). The deepness to which Mason is willing to go within himself to portray this message is what will resonate with viewers.

Blood River is no longer on the film festival circuit, and while the UK has secured distribution, a North American release is less clear. This is a truly remarkable film and worthy of further interpretation by this reviewer and by readers to find answers to important questions about spirituality. Is Clark's punishment just? The answer to this would require more evidence, but the Old Testament has a very clear law for those who kill another, especially the most vulnerable.

Setting/realism/authenticity: 8.5 (beautiful, desolate deserts).
Characters/performances/believability: 8.5 (it is all there).
Plot/story/subject/social message: 8 (some very good material here).

Overall: 8.3 out of 10 (a little short in length, some answers could have been shaded in a little more clearly).

*This film and other horror titles are currently available on Verizon, Rogers, Cogeco, Insight, Mediacom, and Suddenlink through Gravitas Ventures.

A review of the film at Twitch Films:

Blood River at Twitch

A review of the film at Dread Central:

Blood River at Dread Central

The Blood River homepage:

The Blood River Official Website

Join the Gravitas Ventures homepage to find out when the film will be available on VOD in North America:

Gravitas Ventures on Facebook

Sources:

An Educated Look at the "Eye for an Eye" Proverb

Another film from director Adam Mason and writer Simon Boyes (The Devil's Chair):



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