Blood Craft (Movie Review)

PLOT: Two sisters attempt to bring on a little supernatural retribution to their deceased, but sadistically abusive father.

REVIEW: Revenge can be a very effective subject matter, especially when it comes to the horror genre. Whether it’s a larger scale thriller, or a small budget feature, there is something intrinsically appealing about this sort of story – at least for this viewer. In the new film BLOOD CRAFT, we have a slightly different spin on this familiar topic. However, this enjoyable supernatural flick starts off going in the same direction as a number of films have gone before. We meet a woman whose life was destroyed by her abusive father. And of course, she must go face her demons after she finds out he has passed on. Thankfully, once we get away from the introduction, the film takes on a few twists and turns, amping up the mystery element.

We first meet Grace (Madeleine Wade) while she is working at a seedy strip club. Yet even that doesn’t help her enough because she can’t afford to pay her bills, and she’s facing eviction. Things change for her when she gets word that her minister father (Dave Sheridan) has died. When she goes back, it becomes an uncomfortable reunion for Grace and her sister Serena (Augie Duke). Things get even more complicated when another familiar face shows up. Tyler Waters (MIchael Welch) happens to be an old acquaintance of the family, and now is looking to help her sell the home.. yet he appears to have questionable motives. Things get really twisted when Serena conjures up a plan to exact a little bit of bloody and supernatural revenge on their deceased dad.

Writer and director James Cullen Bressack certainly has a passion for low budget horror. And this particular script, co-written by Bressack and the film’s star, Madeleine Wade, starts off in a bit of a standard way. We see Grace as a woman who has never fully recovered from her father’s vicious attacks. And her return to the place where she grew up feels a bit too familiar within the realm of horror. Even when she comes face to face with her sister, it still doesn’t quite break out of something that feels a bit by-the-numbers. Had the film just traveled along this path, it would have been like any other drama involving revenge. And then it happens, BLOOD CRAFT changes its course in quite the satisfying way – no spoilers will be given here.

When it comes to the performances, Bressack has done an interesting job of casting the main characters. As Grace, Wade is an intriguing choice, and not one that I admittedly responded to early on. Yet there is something compelling about her, and when she works off of Augie Duke, the two share a fascinating on-screen chemistry. They work especially well together, and when the shite hits the fan, the two bring a hauntingly creepy reality to the mix. And when the final half hour or so arrives, it was easy to root for both Grace and Serena, even if what they are doing is deliciously weird and wicked.

It may not seem like it due to my very vague plot description, but Michael Welch – who was last seen in the inspired THE FINAL WISH – plays a very important part in the proceedings. The actor continues to impress, and this time he takes on a darker character, one that he manages to bring a dynamic presence to. It can be difficult to find the distinction between victim and villain, yet Welch brings a sense of complicated vulnerability to the role. This is not a nice guy, yet he as well is dealing with an abusive family life. It’s a fascinating theme in horror, and while the budget here did occasionally distract in the beginning, it certainly makes it work by the second half when Tyler unwittingly becomes part of Grace and Serena’s plan.

BLOOD CRAFT is a low budget, supernatural, revenge story. While it takes a bit to really get into the twisted tale, once it does, it offers a satisfying hour and half of entertainment. Welch, Wade and Duke all give solid performances, and the creepy bond that both the sisters share is effective. If you give this one a chance – the beginning takes a moment or so to really connect – you’ll find it offers an interesting take on living with violence and abuse. Horror has always been a good place to tackle more serious subjects, and Bressack’s latest manages to convey these themes rather well. And while it’s not perfect, BLOOD CRAFT works on a limited budget thanks to the impressive on-screen talent, and a dark and twisted underlying theme.