I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

All that we are seeing on the screen is happening with real people, real action sequences in the background, forcing the eye to watch as if we were there.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Like Lurking Fear, Bleeders is also inspired by Lovecraft's short story The Lurking Fear. Basic premise is taken from Lovecraft, but plot is completely different than both previous movie and original story. Although, this time it's pretty solid. Screenplay I liked a lot, movie not so much. I have no specific objections, it's simply that overall impression is white-livered. Decent entertainment for genre fans.5/10

John Strauss (Roy Dupuis) and his wife Kathleen (Kristin Lehman) journey to a secluded island in search of a long lost heirloom. Sent away to Europe as a baby John had a trust fund which helped raise him, but was never able to discover the origin of the money or his own past for that matter. Finally he and his wife manage to connect the dots to the island, but no one on it recognises the name Strauss. Inflicted with a deadly affliction John is dying and his only hope is to discover the secrets of his past. One of the few on the island who is willing to help him is Dr. Marlowe (played by Rutger Hauer).This hauntingly bad piece of filmmaking derides it's origin from some Lovecraftian lore, which truthfully has not had a good history of proper on-screen treatment. "Bleeders" is no exception and although Dupuis and especially Rutger Hauer give the script a half-hearted attempt the overall direction of the movie is tragic. The film lacks pacing, basic storytelling abilities, logic and worst of all - horror. Even the farcical dialogue and jumpy script can be forgiven to some point, if the gore is in the right place and the creepy crawlies manage to inflict some fright. Given the monsters look like half-melted outcasts from "The Muppet Show" there isn't even any tongue and cheek ha-has to let you distance yourself from the sheer badness.In this movie everything seems to be way off and severely amateurish. Were it not for the nudity (including one extremely long sex scene, which is arguably the only watchable sequence in the movie) it could easily pass for a bad TV movie.Rutger Hauer tumbles down into the acting ghetto with this outing. Almost as if he really did die in "The Hitcher" and since than it is only his decomposing corpse is being employed to boost video sales of zombified E-class garbage. Hopefully 2011 will announce his big comeback, when "Hobo with a Shotgun" and than South African directed "Spoon" hit the screens to offer a much deserved homage to the downtrodden Dutch actor.It must be noted however, that a couple of extremely interesting ideas pop out during the wanting experience, that do prove the pointless point that the basic plot actually reeked of promise.

I get the impression that the director or editor was trying for a sub-cinema verite feel here. Surely you can't get to direct a multi-million dollar film without knowing some basic tension and shock devices; their complete absence here must - surely must - be deliberate.Whatever they were trying to do, they failed abysmally. There is a certain creepiness about the premise and denouement, but the journey is a real yawn-fest. The creatures are really just pathetic rather than a threat. Cripples armed with garden implements versus hale people with guns isn't really a fair fight, unless the victims insist on being phenomenally stupid. People literally stand around screaming as the creatures... waddle... slowly... towards them, apparently forgetting that they have a gun in their hand! As others reviewers have noted, the sex scene is a complete disjoint, and really out of place. It just highlights what a muddled mess the whole endeavour is.

I just saw Bleeders for the 2nd time this weekend, and I must say that it's a great film. It's really offbeat and different, and I'm not afraid to say that I give it a 10! You have got to be able to appreciate a classic bad B-movie, and as a bonus, this one is actually quite interesting.If you're fed up with the classic Hollywood bullcrap, and you just want something to check out for sheer entertainment value, then pick up Bleeders - you won't be disappointed... And if you are, then you can join the ranks of all the "holier than thou" pseudo-critics who panned this movie.This is not a spoiler, but I will say, can you imagine being with a significant other that loves you, no matter the RIDICULOUS things that you do? Just think about that one, because it's pretty absurd that the main character's girlfriend wants to stay with him, even when it's revealed what he needs to do to survive!