Blood Deep (2005)

Director:

Todd S. Kniss

Writer:

Todd S. Kniss

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.

Plot:

A reunion of childhood friends turns deadly when one of the guests unwittingly admits to murder.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Secret | Mistrust | Family Relationships | Blood

Cast

Jeridan Frye	...	Katie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marilyn Alex	...	Grammie
T.J. Amato	...	Danny
Jordan Belfi	...	Gregg
Amy Christine	...	Robin
Richard Cline Cunningham	...	Sean
Kim Delgado	...	Larry Ola
Femi Emiola	...	Eliza
Bo Foxworth	...	Cal
Wendy Foxworth	...	Katie's Mom (as Wendy Kaplan)
Lily Goff	...	Younger Robin (Age 6)
K.K. Goodrich	...	Nurse
Tyler Goucher	...	Ronnie
Fred Griffith	...	Victor Westen
Brandon Haas	...	Young Cal
Gerald Hopkins	...	Will
Bailey Hughes	...	Young Sean
Tristan Jarred	...	Young Jacob
Nina Kaczorowski	...	Joan Weston
Kelci B. Lowry	...	Young Katie
Stephen Lunsford	...	Young Will
Ben L. McCain	...	Ben
Kelli Nordhus	...	Allison
Peter Onorati	...	Repairman
Bob Rusch	...	Cop
Bobby Sharpe	...	Young Gregg
Ethan Sharrett	...	Teddy
Jessica Steinbaum	...	Young Robin
Julian Wells	...	Neighbor Woman (as Suzy McCoppin)
Cameron Zeidler	...	Jacob

Directed by
Todd S. Kniss

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Todd S. Kniss

Produced by
Nicole Ettinger	....	line producer
Brian Gork	....	producer
Erik Hensin	....	executive producer
Lori Hensin	....	executive producer
Kathy Miller Kniss	....	executive producer
Kathy Miller Kniss	....	producer
Todd S. Kniss	....	executive producer
Bill Marinella	....	associate producer
Lea-Beth Shapiro	....	producer

Original Music by
Matt Reid Cohn

Cinematography by
Seamus Tierney

Film Editing by
Vikash Patel

Casting by
Bill Marinella

Production Design by
Anthony Morassutti

Art Direction by
Jennifer Furfaro

Set Decoration by
Arlynn Gonzalez

Costume Design by
Jessica Elliott

Makeup Department
Keith Beck	....	special makeup effects assistant
Tracey Moeller	....	assistant makeup artist
Sheila Moore	....	assistant hair stylist
Sheila Moore	....	assistant makeup artist
Elissa Prager	....	assistant makeup artist
Michele Dawn Sweeney	....	makeup department head

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vanessa Barzola	....	second second assistant director
Dave Casper	....	first assistant director
Dan Hertzog	....	second unit director
Mimi Mui	....	first assistant director
Edward Shen	....	second assistant director
Hallie Stoller	....	first assistant director: second unit

Art Department
Teri Bolke	....	art department coordinator
David Carbert	....	carpenter
Erik Diener	....	art department
Erik Diener	....	set dresser
Brian Flach	....	property master
Frank Meroney	....	carpenter
Nikki Rudloff	....	set designer

Sound Department
Erik Diener	....	boom operator
Andy Hay	....	sound designer
Andy Hay	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andy Hay	....	sound supervisor
Brett Hinton	....	sound effects editor
Tim D. Lloyd	....	sound mixer
Mariel Lohninger	....	sound mixer
Geordy Sincavage	....	foley mixer

Special Effects by
Richard Miranda	....	special effects director
Trey Sanford	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Bryan Becker	....	stunt double
Erica Grace	....	stunt double: Femi Emiola
Mark Riccardi	....	stunt coordinator
Marc Schaffer	....	stunt rigger

Camera and Electrical Department
Benny Alvarado	....	electrician
Aram Aramyan	....	first assistant camera
Peter Beskodarny	....	assistant camera
Lauren Blair	....	electrician (as Lauren Fitton)
Kenny Brown	....	Steadicam operator
John Butler	....	camera operator
Jesse Crusing	....	additional gaffer
Carol Culvin	....	grip
Markus Davids	....	underwater camera operator
Shaun Drees	....	assistant camera
Kevin Duggin	....	gaffer
Shane English	....	assistant camera
Jose Elias Felix	....	electrician
Brandon Flohr	....	grip
Tony Flores	....	grip
David Gamble	....	electrician
David Gamble	....	grip
Joel Henry	....	grip
Dan Hertzog	....	director of photography: second unit
Ryan Hill	....	grip
Brent C. Johnson	....	film loader
Jon Jones	....	assistant camera
Robert Keith	....	best boy electric
Colin Kelly	....	additional first assistant camera
Matt Kubas	....	electrician
Adam Orellana	....	key grip
Elizabeth Perantinides	....	key camera production assistant
Anthony Rosario	....	additional second assistant camera
Lucia Diaz Sas	....	key grip
Rebecca Shapiro	....	still photographer
Richard Swindell	....	Steadicam operator
Gregg Thompson	....	dolly grip
Gregg Thompson	....	key grip
Amanda Treyz	....	gaffer
Bobby Woo	....	gaffer: second unit
Nathaniel Yolles	....	assistant camera

Casting Department
Bill Marinella	....	additional casting
S. Ann Ng	....	casting associate

Editorial Department
Tim Carras	....	colorist
Teague Cowley	....	on-line editor
Tim L. Cunningham	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Ben L. McCain	....	composer: song "Faith, Family and Friends"
Hal Oppenheim	....	composer: stock music

Other crew
Le'Rue Delashay	....	additional score by
Javier Gonzalez	....	production assistant
Tom Goodrich	....	studio teacher
Kathy Miller Kniss	....	publicist
Ignatius Lin	....	script supervisor
Ruben Marquez	....	key set production assistant
John Mazza	....	co-script supervisor
Danielle McKee	....	stand in: Jeridan Frye
Frank Mullis	....	production assistant
S. Ann Ng	....	assistant to producers
Jaime 'Bubba' Rovero	....	production assistant
Danielle Snowdon	....	script supervisor
Anthony Steinhart	....	additional set production assistant

Production Companies

• Reelistic Pictures

Distributors

• One Movie (2007) (Italy) (all media)
• Starmedia Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Spank Machine  sound post-production
• Switch Studios  post-production facilities

Also Known As:

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Filming Locations:

Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

Reelistic Pictures

Not that bloody and definitely not that "deep"...

I had really hoped to come here with the announcement that the slasher sub-genre is NOT dead… That there still are enthusiast young directors with bright ideas and a passion for vicious gore or insane plot twists. "Blood Deep" surely looked like such a promising new horror project but, alas, it disappoints. The story revolves on a gang of childhood friends that come together for a reunion at the parental house of pivot character Kate. During a random hypnosis game, one of them suddenly confesses to a murder that was committed in the area over 20 years ago. The synopsis really appealed to me as it reminded me of classic films like "Stand By Me" or Stephen King's "It", only with a genuine slasher-twist! Unfortunately, Todd S. Kniss (cool name, though) makes the mistake of introducing too many characters and dedicates too much of his time on detailed but unnecessary character drawings. Creating a background or building up atmosphere is good, but "Blood Deep" eventually features too many pointless flashbacks and dead-end story lines. Then, when the long-awaited killing spree breaks loose, the story regretfully reverts to old clichés and predictable situations. Every character has his/her own repressed trauma or hidden teenage crush that comes to the surface during the reunion. The murder sequences are tame (sometimes even off-screen, God forbid!) and the whole film remains politically correct at all times, which was quite a letdown. Perhaps in order to attain wider audiences, Kniss put a lot of effort in stylish cinematography and a creative use of light. He definitely isn't a bad director, also since the entire cast deliver above-average performances and the choice of music is effectively creepy. Maybe "Blood Deep" was just wrongly promoted? With a slightly less gruesome sounding title and a more coherent plot, this could have been an acceptable psychological thriller.

On a totally unimportant side note: I saw this film at the Belgian horror festival and supportive actress Kelci B. Lowry came along to introduce it. Let me assure you she's one gorgeous looking angel with a smile that nearly makes you melt in your seat.