Too much of everything

Beautiful, moving film.

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

The title conjures up images of some cheesy slasher flick, but Blood River is anything but. I've rented a few (well, more than a few) horror titles in my time with the word 'Blood' in the title. It seems to say a lot about the film, i.e. filled with gruesome deaths and maybe the odd rubbery monster thrown in for good measure.However, Blood River definitely doesn't fit into those categories. At the beginning, I didn't like it. It starts off with the obligatory couple driving through the deserted deserts, only to come across the one wandering lunatic hell bent on making your final hours a living hell. It all sounds pretty average, but it's worth sticking with. Its one down point is that it is a little longer than your average horror film and most of the first 1h 15 minutes is spent watching three people in one location, having various conversations about all sorts of supposed deep and meaningful issues.That was how it starts. It doesn't pan out quite so obviously though. Without going into too much detail, it has a few surprises along the way and Andrew Howard deserves a special mention as the 'stranger' Joseph who the unsuspecting couple meet.Give it a watch if you want a 'horror movie that contains plenty of talking points.' However, the 'talking points' may also serve to be a bit of a let down. Not everything is totally explained and wrapped up neatly, leaving some questions which will be up to your interpretation afterwards.Blood River is one of those movies where you could show it to four different people and be given four totally different opinions to its merits and meanings.

I have a lot of sympathy and respect for the duo Simon Boyes and Adam Mason, because they write and direct – at a relatively high tempo, I may add – horror films that are at least somewhat "wayward" without necessarily obeying to the public's mainstream demands of remakes, teen slashers and lousy sequels. Their movies certainly aren't groundbreaking or profound ("Broken" is a survival thriller and "The Devil's Chair" is a sort of throwback to asylum horror), but they do appeal to die-hard and experienced fans of the genre because they're brutal, grim and thoroughly sinister. I had particularly high hopes for "Blood River", as it is described as the duo's most ambitious and thematic screenplay. Unfortunately, however, and in spite of a very powerful first half and an overall exact right atmosphere & setting, this actually turned out to be a slight disappointment instead. "Blood River" introduces too many plot elements that feel familiar and derivative. Young newlyweds driving across the Nevada desert, car trouble on a godforsaken road, a mysterious loner who may or may not be an apostle directly sent down by God himself, ghost towns and macabre discoveries in the trunk of a car … We've all seen too many horror films featuring these key elements so this one doesn't exactly feel very refreshing. Also, Mason and Boyes persist in upholding and even enlarging the mysterious atmosphere up until the last minutes for no apparent reason. The script doesn't reveal certain vital denouements, not even long after you already figured them out. Clark and Summer, a happily married young couple with a baby on the way, drive across the desert to visit the parents in law. Their car has a blow out and naturally there isn't a spare tire, so they have to walk several miles to the nearest town on the map – called Blood River – only to discover it's an abandoned place. Then arrives the enigmatic chain- smoking and whiskey-sipping cowboy Joseph. The couple will have to work together with this discretely obtrusive and uncanny individual, but we already know for a fact there's something weird about him because we witnessed how he convinced the sex-hungry motel owner to slit her own wrists. Is Joseph a deranged serial killer obeying the voices in his head or is he really a disciple of God, put on the earth to punish the sinners? And, if he is, what sins could this cute young couple possibly have committed to deserve such a painful ordeal? The first half of "Blood River" is quite tense and compelling, simply because the plot and character drawings are still unfolding. As soon as it's time for answers and clarifications, the script becomes implausible and unoriginal. The desolate filming locations are great (especially the "cemetary" at the end) and the acting performances are above average, but this just isn't a memorable film. Nice try, Mr. Mason and Mr. Boyes, but I would prefer for your next movie to be more straightforward and violent again.

This has got to be one of the best surprises in a film I've ever had. Going into the film I had no knowledge of the storyline, the actors or the director and I was completely engrossed from start to finish. I will definitely look out for the director's films now as this was beautifully shot, well paced and the actors were outstanding, especially for an Indy film. The premise for the film was great and it's definitely one of those films that you think about and question after you seen it. A special mention has to go to the actor Andrew Howard who was fantastic in his role, what a character and what a film. I don't really want to say anything about the plot because with this film I think it's best to watch it knowing nothing about it. I wouldn't call it a horror but it is very creepy in parts.

This movie kept me in my seat !! I wanted to screen a few movies at this years Newport Beach Film Festival Thinking I had enough time to eat before the screening, I hit traffic on the 405 freeway from San Diego, needless to say, I got there as the movie started. Thinking that I would just grab a bite from the snack bar, I was waiting for a slow point in the film where I wouldn't miss much or lose my seat (placed was packed)Let me start by saying "I never had a chance !" This small movie with a cast of three kept me riveted in my chair until the end credits. I though I had it all figured out and then something happens in the middle of the movie that made me realize I don't know what the heck is about to happen. (I wont spoil it for you) I will finish with saying the lead girl "Tess Panzer" makes you feel you must jump up into the screen and save her !Job well done !!!