#like the score. directing. camera work and shot choices and transitions. all have a few really great moments

[marklikely]

ive seen the critical reviews. ive seen the fan hype. ive seen the hate. i can imagine sam raimi working against the constraints of mcu monotony leading to something very halfcocked, unrealized. cinematic edging? if u wanna talk abt it here, what did u see happen that made it so bad its entertaining again?

i think for me the review that best summed it up was someone who said that they liked it because they were just letting the insanity run through them, because the second you try to actually think of whats happening it will make you angry.

the thing that for me took it from bad to entertaining was just the fact that the plot was so incomprehensible, had 0 interest in making even the slightest bit of sense (especially not for me who, admittedly, did not watch any of the most important movies and shows that work as backstory for this movie. ive literally only seen infinity war and endgame).

at a certain point all the throwing out of names of magical items that ive never heard before, characters screaming their deep feelings over events that i had not seen, and just random absurd plot details that pop up out of nowhere (that according to people who DID watch all the movies and shows, still dont make any sense even if you did do the homework that i neglected to do) makes it like. honestly almost like the room or a neil breen movie climax where its just complete word salad. they introduce a bunch of fan service character reveals and then 3 minutes later kill them off and expect you to care about these characters you literally just met. doctor strange possesses his own zombified-corpse alternate self (despite the fact that the entire movie is about how wanda possessing her alternate selves is inherently evil) and then gets attacked by demons that are never even mentioned until the SCENE they appear in. and then the demons help him defeat these random giant statues that are wanda's henchmen. its chaotic all around which is always what i personally find entertaining in a bad movie.

especially combined with the fact that the acting is not awesome which makes it even more in line with a classic so bad its good movie. and the fact that they kind of toned down on the mcu quips which are easily the part that kills the humor the most(the quips are like. particularly bad by mcu standards but theyre quarantined to their own rapidfire "joke" telling scenes and so they dont infect the action scenes or anything like that)

[fearsmagazine]

BLOODTHIRSTY - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Brainstorm Media

SYNOPSIS: Vegan singer-songwriter Grey is looking for a producer for her second album. She is approached and decides to work with notorious music producer Vaughn Daniels. As the album progresses, Vaughn begins to influence more than just her music. Grey starts to make compromises one her beliefs, nutrition, and her lyrics take on a darker theme as she embraces her internal beast.

REVIEW: Forty years ago, 1981, was a banner year for werewolf movies. That year gave us “An American Werewolf in London,” “The Howling” that was based on the novel by Gary Brandner, and the adaptation of the Whitley Strieber novel “Wolfen.” Over the last forty years I would be hard pressed to name other films in the genre that have reset the part of the werewolf film genre. This year so far there have been a few films that play with the genre, but none that feel as fresh and as memorable as filmmaker Amelia Moses’ BLOODTHIRSTY.

The screenplay is by the mother daughter team Wendy Hill-Tout and Lowell, a Canadian singer/songwriter who also provides some music for the film. What makes the narrative so engaging is the complex character arch of Grey. While she is coming off of the critical success of her first album there are aspects of her life that are nowhere near as perfect. Once she leaves the city and begins work on her new album at Daniels’ home and studio in the woods things begin to awaken within her that contradict her chosen lifestyle. Daniels, who has a dark past, questions Grey’s choices and offers her alternatives. As she begins to try some of his suggestions her music begins to blossom, but inspired by the darker muses she has embraced. The story, set in a remote location, focuses on three characters; Grey, Daniels, and Grey’s girlfriend Charlie. Daniels clearly represents Grey’s future, and Charlie her past. Grey is in the eye of the storm as she struggles to find her path through this storm.

Director Amelia Moses and her cast do an excellent job of creating engaging characters that invest the viewer in the drama. Greg Bryk, who plays Daniels, creates a predatory screen presence that also has a component to it of a demanding mentor. Until the film’s climax we’re never certain of is actual motives or intentions. This is the second film where actress Lauren Beatty has worked with Moses. Beatty’s performance adds this fairytale element to the film. What initially might seem like a princess who is lost in the woods and in need of rescuing, Beatty slowly brings forth an inner strength to the character as she makes a startling transformation. Also, Beatty has a solid singing voice as the role requires her to sing several of the film’s songs.

Moses has a great location for Daniels’ home/studio. Working with cinematographer Charles Hamilton they capture some beautiful panoramic shots of the outdoors and do an effective job with the light and shadows of the interiors to enhance the tension and suspense. Clearly Moses is a fan of the horror genre as she slowly doles out the blood and gore as she builds each terrifying moment in the film. Working on an independent film budget she mounts an impressive transformation sequence through different camera angles and editing.

Composer Michelle Osis delivers an impressive score that not only has to serve the film’s tension and horror, but enhance the quieter moments. She also provides a seamless transition between the original songs created by Lowell. Lowell’s theme for the film is a song titled “Bloodthirsty.” With its dark lyrics and a pop/country sound it feels like a Billie Eilish hit, and a piece my teenage daughter enjoyed.

Director Amelia Moses is Canadian, as are many of the people behind and in front of the camera. There is an aspect to BLOODTHIRSTY that is reminiscent of the early films of David Cronenberg. Still, Amelia Moses is a fresh visionary filmmaker that adds some new energy into this often overly exploited and cliched werewolf genre. Her first feature film, which she wrote, directed, and stars Lauren Beatty, is another genre film and is due out sometime this year. I eagerly await its release based on her work on this film.

CAST: Lauren Beatty, Greg Bryk, Katharine King, and Michael Ironside. CREW: Director - Amelia Moses; Screenplay - Wendy Hill-Tout & Lowell; Producers - Wendy Hill-Tout & Michael Peterson; Cinematographer - Charles Hamilton; Editor - David Hiatt; Score - Michelle Osis & Lowell Boland; Production Designer - Mike Kasper; Costume Designer - Tracey Graham; Special Makeup Effects Designer - David Trainor; Visual Effects - Brendon Rathbone. OFFICIAL: N.A. FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/OZxt2GNrL6o RELEASE DATE: In theaters and VOD on April 23, 2021.

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay),  or 👎 (Dislike) Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri