Written by: Michael Den Boer on September 22nd, 2007
Theatrical Release Dates: USA, 2006
Director: Alan Rowe Kelly
Writer: Alan Rowe Kelly
Cast: Susan Adriensen, Victoria Bensen, Tom Burns, Zoe Daelman Chlanda, Sasha Friedenberg, Michael Gingold, Brian Juergens, Alan Rowe Kelly, Mike Lane, Kane Manera, Stephanie Marracho, Jerry Murdock, Joshua Nelson, Robert Norman, Katherine O’Sullivan, Sandra Schaller, Terry West
DVD released: October 30th, 2007
Approximate running time: 73 minutes
Rating: NR
DVD Release: Heretic Films
Region Coding: Region 0 NTSC
Retail Price: $19.95
Synopsis: When the locales start disappearing the law investigates the Bullion’s an inbred backwoods family that enjoys eating other human beings.
The Blood Shed is director Alan Rowe Kelly’s follow up to his 2002 film debut I’ll Bury You Tomorrow (which is also available on DVD from Heretic Films). Production wise Alan Rowe Kelly has grown as filmmaker with the Blood Shed a film that was reportedly made on a modest budget even though the end results would never give away this fact on face value. The story treads all too familiar grounds Hillbilly families with incestuous habits, cannibalism and larger then life characters that you would only see in a horror film. The one film that Blood Shed in a round about way shares some similarities with is Rob Zombie’s House of 1,000 Corpses.
The dialog is humorous sometimes and often vulgar most of the time. The look of the film and its pacing are two of its strongest assets. The acting in The Blood Shed also deserves high marks with every last role in the film done without net or restrictions. It almost feels like we are watching inmates at an insane asylum as director Alan Rowe Kelly lets the performers find themselves and rarely if ever they are reigned in. My favorite character in the film was Beefteena Bullion who also just happens to be played by director Alan Rowe Kelly. From the films opening moments when she is the first person we see as she skips and drags around road kill as her pet you know you are in for something out of the ordinary.
This is a horror film after all and the violence in the film is often brutal and never done half way. The special effects make up for the murders and various torture scenes is really effective and well done. The films sound track of southern style like rock suits the story and its characters. Even though there is a lot to enjoy and take away from The Blood Shed in the end I came away from the film with a feeling a Déjà Vu as most of what occurs in this film has been covered in various horror films through the years. Ultimately The Blood Shed is a solid effort that most horror fans are sure to appreciate.
- 1.85:1 Letterbox Widescreen
- Shot on Digital Video
- Transfer is Interlaced
Audio:
- Dolby Digital Stereo English
Extras:
- Audio commentary with director Alan Rowe Kelly, actress Katherine O’Sullivan, actor Jerry Murdock, composer Tom Burns and cinematographer Bart Mastronardi
- Actor’s Bios
- Theatrical Trailer
- Behind the Scenes Montage (9 minutes)
- Reversable DVD cover art
Overall:
Heretic Films have put together an impressive DVD for Alan Rowe Kelly’s The Blood Shed. The video transfer looks really good and the audio mix is more then adequate and at times robust. Even though extras are sparse with the main extra an audio commentary with director Alan Rowe Kelly, actress Katherine O’Sullivan, actor Jerry Murdock, composer Tom Burns and cinematographer Bart Mastronardi. The audio commentary is a lot of fun and in the end I actually enjoyed it more then the film. Alan Rowe Kelly’s The Blood Shed gets a solid DVD release from Heretic Films.