Blood (2000) User Reviews

I think this film gets somewhat of an unfair review

[staygold83 · 5/10 · 20 July 2005]

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.

ADDICTED TO LOVE

[nogodnomasters · 4/10 · 14 April 2019]

Dr. Carl Dyson (Adrian Rawlins aka James Potter) keep Lix (Lee Blakemore) locked up until she was 20. In his experiment he has created an addictive blood that now has a cult following. The blood gives people a feeling of euphoria where they only see good in everything and then has a crash where everyone looks evil. Lix goes from being a created captive to having free run of the house. Under the circumstances she is remarkably normal, educated, and well adjusted.

The film is interesting as you keep wondering where it is going to lead, but is slow developing. This is a well acted, low action drama. It is not a vampire horror film. To complicate matters Carl has a jealous wife (Elizabeth Marmur) and a curious 10 year old son (Nicolas Harvey).

Available for uncensored free watching at Viewstar...plus commercials.

Parental Guide: F-bomb, sex, nudity (Lee Blakemore, Adrian Rawlins' junk)

Strangely professional considering the really uncut presentation

[hargulaf · 2/10 · 29 September 2000]

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

Terrible, boring, looooooong, not scary, unintentionally funny at times...

[Gyro Gearloose · 1/10 · 18 July 2000]

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.

FAST FORWARD

[stellar-1 · 1/10 · 18 November 2001]

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.

Unconventional Vampire-esque Thriller

[mariajonasfahlsing · 7/10 · 21 July 2014]

I started this movie thinking that I could watch/listen to it in the background while I worked on other things. However, the story and characters in addition to the dramatic tension and plot drew me in and would not let go.

Blood is a highly underrated film with refreshing originality. Although she is not a true vampire, Lix's dependence upon human blood for sustenance does have a sexual aspect as it often does in vampire movies. However, the narcotic effects of consuming her blood and the resultant addiction doing so causes humans directly parallels the final season of True Blood which came 14 years after this film was released. In other words, I find "Blood" to be ahead of its time.

By far, the most interesting character in the film is the little boy Jack. He is amusing, says really unintentionally funny lines which are made all the more funny due to his age and blunt honesty. I laughed out loud when young Jack said, "He smokes all the time, so I think he's going to die soon." The blunt honesty of children can be highly amusing and very true. Also, the way in which he quickly and easily bonds with Lix is heartwarming as is Lix's reciprocated admiration for the boy.

The soundtrack is very good and compliments the film very well with one minor exception. Although I was pleasantly surprised to hear Orgy's cover of "Blue Monday," which is one of my favorite songs, the instrumental theme was overplayed and became annoying by the end of the movie. Similar to the bell theme from The Exorcist, the same two or three stanzas of music were repeated ad nauseam for far too long in places and not always at dramatic moments. Therefore, when I heard it for the fourth and fifth times, I was bored with and tired of it.

Believe when I say that everyone should watch this movie for its insights on love, obsession, addiction, desperation, priorities, and relationships. However, if blood makes you squeamish, you may want to avoid it or cover your eyes for some scenes.

Extremely Well Done Low Budget Thriller, Not Horror

[sbrazie · 7/10 · 27 January 2009]

When I saw that the average rating for this film was only a 4, I felt compelled to write about this captivating low budget endeavor. Blood is listed on IMDb as a horror film, when actually it should be categorized as a thriller. Does it have a vampire? Well, yes and no, as Lix, the Antagonist(?) of the story must survive on human blood. The crux is that Lix's blood is a narcotic for normal humans, and is highly addictive. This of course leads to all sorts of erotic sexuality involving blood between her and the doctor who genetically created her, who quickly becomes an addict. As with all romance and sex involving human blood, things cannot end well. The film has an excellent plot, moves along well, and the acting is very good. The actress who plays Lix is erotic and innocent at the same time, and Adrian Rawlins is superb as the doctor/geneticist who gives up everything for his addiction. Will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Genetic Freak Out

[gongfuguy · 9/10 · 27 September 2014]

The ideas about genetic engineering in this film are great. Way ahead of its time. It is for sci-fi and horror fans who like to see, "this could really happen," types of films. It is emotionally creepy. Like you kind of know you'd screw up too if put in the same situations. It is funny too. I know people seem to like high flash, high-tech, and high suspense. But all of that is just cheap when you have a good story. It should be re-released with a different name and it would do well, perhaps, "Genetic Freak" or "I really need you." This film is about the failure of love and the arrogance of thinking you can make the world a better place.

More of a "horror" movie than a horror movie.

[jigglez · 8/10 · 5 January 2004]

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

A dark delightfully disturbing film that will leave you entranced and wickedly turned on.

[queenzaria · 10/10 · 6 August 2001]

An amazing film...very original. A must see to all horror, Gothic, dark, cult, science fiction fans, or anyone who can handle these genres. Artistic editing and "real" dialogue. Superb actors...why hasn't this been released theatrically? Will leave you enraptured.

Great Movie

[solidsven · 9/10 · 9 April 2009]

I saw this movie way back in 2004, dubbed in French, and absolutely loved it. I wasn't going to post an in depth analysis here but apparently I need 10 lines to be able to post so I have to come up with a bit more to say. Alors, the film was sexy, gory, fast paced with clean audio and a decent soundtrack. I just wish more people agreed with me. Damn, how much does one have to say about a movie here...? Sex, drugs and rock and roll baby. That's what this movie is all about, with a slightly vampiric undertone. A smaller production film with themes outside of mainstream subject matter (drug and sex addiction). I'd love to see Charlie do another film sometime. Well done mate!

Best vampire movie in years... and it doesn't even have classic vampires in it!

[meehawl · 9/10 · 21 October 2000]

Amazing. The single best vampire lore movie in years... and it doesn't even have any vampires in it! All about rapture and addiction and inauthentic communication. This movie could only have come out of the UK, where nearly 15 years of club culture has engendered a generation increasingly and intimately familiar with ecstatic, narcotic highs and normality, come-down lows.

"It is only when I'm hungry that I can really see clearly..."

[brthrn · 10/10 · 10 April 2004]

"You take mine and I'll take yours..."

Just finished viewing Charly Cantor's film BLOOD (Not to be confused with the rather disappointing anime release of the same title). From the movie box. I suspected that this was going to be rather girly/artsy vampire flick. My assumption was WAY off. BLOOD _is_ artsy. But not pretentious. It's a vampire film made by people that actually had the patience to sit down and plot out an interesting story. And. Since it's not an American genre film (It's English, I think) BLOOD actually has a cast of TALENTED ACTORS! Perish the thought.

BLOOD tells the story of Nix, a genetically engineered vampire whose blood, when imbibed, produces highly euphoric effects for the user and has a HIGHLY addictive nature. Yes. That's right. Another medical-science-gone-horribly-wrong-through-genetic-experimentation- vampirism-as-an-addiction-metaphor movie! And although Nix is the product of science. She is still a magical creature. She's a vampire. And people are eerily drawn to her. And then she destroys them.

I don't want to give away too much. It's a great story. Well-paced. And very erotic (Oh. Yes. Sex & Blood. Blood & Sex. For those of _you_ who are into that sort of thing...). The chick who plays Nix is...um...stunning. Enchanting. Even. Very well cast film.

Guilt and greed. Addiction. A father's betrayal. And more than just a subtle treatise on the true Nature of relationships and Love...and need...

If you're a fan of films like MARTIN, or CHRONOS or NADJA. Then you will not be disappointed by BLOOD.

Well done. Hats off to the film-makers.

A necessity for any true vampire film collector

[Jester222 · 9/10 · 13 May 2008]

This film was a very pleasant surprise. Low budget but professionally acted and directed. The film centres around a beautiful young woman 'LIX' -who's blood has been genetically manipulated- turning her 'Blood' into a highly addictive narcotic-spawning a network of 'junkies' who will do anything to get a 'fix'. Not even the Doctor who created her can resist the taste. If you are a fan of Cronenberg's 'Dead ringers' then you will no doubt savour every haemorrhaged drop. Deep and psychological- erotic- how can it not be with the innocent looking babe that is 'Lix' (Lee 'Emma' Blakemore.) -(Paradise grove & I want to kiss you) fan's of 'Vampire' films - like 'The Hunger' will love this for it's more 'thinking persons approach'. a necessity for any true vampire film collector. get a 'fix' of Lix. Highly recommended.

Blood Junkies...

[azathothpwiggins · 1 September 2021]

BLOOD starts out as a story about a woman named Lix (Lee Blakemore) who is rescued by two men from a horrible situation. Lix has been found strapped to a chair with a muzzle on her face. Her captors have been systematically draining her of blood.

However, all is not as it appears to be, and Lix's rescuers soon discover the terror they've inadvertently brought upon themselves.

BLOOD is a British horror film reminiscent of early Cronenberg. It's strange and disturbing in that sort of cold, clinical way.

Recommended for those looking for a radically different take on the vampire story, with an addiction subtext...