Pacific Standard Time (2016) User Reviews

Terrible

[xhidden99 · 3/10 · 3 December 2016]

How can I put this? It's terrible. Almost halfway through and NOTHING has happened. NOTHING. Look we all know where this is going. Guy and girl get an unplanned visit from an 'old friend'. He's sketchy. We get it he's vaguely Hispanic and talks black. He's sketchy. We know there's going to be a love triangle we know the two guys have a past that's going to come back to haunt one of them. We know the girl is going to get sexually involved with the sketchy guy. We know there's going to be some criminal activity with even sketchier dudes. We know the girl is going to get or almost gets raped by the even sketchier dudes. We know there's going to be a fight slash gun battle slash drowning between the first guy and the sketchy guy. We know sketchy guy is on a revenge trip. We know the cop who shows up at the beginning in a brilliant white linen suit isn't a cop. We know the guy and the girl are too dumb to know that. We know no one will ask how the sketchy guy even knew they were living there. We know that with Airbnb no one would rent out their top 5 most amazing homes in all of LA for $150,000 a week for the whole summer because their step daughter and her do nothing boyfriend should use it for free for their summer vacation in their mid 20s.

And that's what we know will happen. Problem is nothing happens. SLOW burn is not a synonym. It's a style. It's a tease where you spin out a shaggy dog story in a TV series so that you can stretch 3 episodes into 13. In a movie its just wasted time and film. I can't tell you how many movies now are "the first 75 minutes are terrible but the the last 15 are good. Just make those 15 and skip the rest. Just because you call your little movie a neo noir something or other doesn't mean you can get away with awful cheesy dialog terrible direction a boilerplate script cookie cutter characters and bad acting. And why is almost every actor South African? Do they come as a package deal with the house?

you can't spoil this film

[ss124-661-382111 · 3/10 · 2 November 2017]

First of all the main character in this which is trying to be film noir is the home. The view of the city of Los Angeles is spectacular. IMHO I could not believe these two ever went to the same college. Freegood just doesn't seem like a guy who would ever sit in a classroom. Freegood, what kind of name is that. He's obviously Hispanic. Football scholarship? Give me a break. Most love the plot twist. What plot twist? Most say it's unpredictable. This waste of 90 minutes was totally predictable. If you're on Netflix you're much better off watching "Midsomer Murders".

A slick, high-production value version of Wiseau's "The Room" you've all been looking for

[s-06827 · 3/10 · 25 November 2019]

I'm not going to spoil the movie for you, (there's nothing to spoil) but this is as if The Room was put in a blender (plot points mixed up) and then polished up.

In this version, it's Percy's dad who tells him that his girlfriend is a catch and that he has to work hard to keep her (instead of Lisa's mom), the friend, Freedgood, gets Percy mixed up in the drug deal (Denny, Chris R.) Veronica is someone with expensive taste (like Lisa) but Percy is the useless stay-at-home boyfriend that does nothing.

It's not bad enough or funny enough to watch as a bad movie, but not good enough (in any sense) to watch as a good movie.

The film just wants to show off the expensive location and Willa Holland in a swimsuit.

Don't watch it. Do something else with you life.

Definitely a "B" movie, I saw it for Willa Holland.

[TxMike · 7 December 2016]

I came across this movie on Netflix streaming. It has a very low IMDb rating and it is appropriate. Definitely a "B" movie with a questionable script and the ending isn't very clear. Still for Willa Holland, of 'Arrow' as Thea Queen, fans it is an interesting movie if you have 90 minutes to spend.

The story revolves around a couple who were friends in college out East and now lovers. Through connections of friends they, both unemployed, are house-sitting for a few weeks in Los Angeles. Not just any house, one of those up in the hills overlooking the city in the distance and with one of those fancy swimming pools out back. That is a very, very expensive place.

Things are going smoothly until one night there is an unexpected knock at the front door. With no regard for who it is or possible danger they open the door to find an old friend dropping by, a friend with a very shady past. After they visit and he says he has a ways to drive they for some reason invite him to stay the night. That turns out to be a very bad move.

Willa Holland is the girl of the couple, Veronica, and her boyfriend is Alex Russell as Percy, sometimes called a Chemist and other times a Chemical Engineer, they can't quite decide, but he is unemployed. However he is good at weighing and mixing, particularly when it involves cutting high-grade drugs. The old, dangerous friend is Miguel Gomez as Freedgood (is that really a Spanish name??), fresh out of a couple of years in prison.

Right when the young couple are ready to go to the train station for the trip back East (she is afraid of flying) a detective shows up, David S. Lee as Hector Cortez, he says he wants to interview them one more time, regarding the death of Freedgood, in the pool, blood in the water.

SPOILERS: The whole movie is basically a flashback over the prior three days, and when Freedgood was threatening both of the others, trying to drown Percy, Veronica shoots him, three times. It was self-defense. Cortez as it turns out wasn't really a cop, he was after the missing money from the drug deal. It seems that the money ended up in Percy's guitar case, bound for the East, but I am not certain.

Kewl suspense flick

[cekadah · 7/10 · 19 September 2016]

A young couple house sitting at a very lavish address are visited by an old friend and things begin to turn dark, very dark for the young couple.

Blood in the Water succeeds in creating an atmosphere of mystery, tension, suspense, all wrapped up in an undercurrent of sexual lust. The two main characters Percy and Veronica allow Freedgood, and old school friend of Percy, to visit and stay with them in this unbelievably well appointed house. Freedgood brings with him a past and a current mission that both frightens and intrigue's Percy and Veronica. You the viewer will see the progression of the story through flashbacks.

There is no need to tell any more as this story brings twist and turns in the plot that is sure to keep you watching. My only problem with this flick was at the very end - I didn't understand exactly what happened. Otherwise it's a good suspense story!

Film noir with an amazing twist

[walnut-87661 · 8/10 · 31 August 2016]

It's a super clean story line, that takes you on a intense building plot with an unexpected twist that won't let you down. Great build to final reveal. Not a big production type movie but shot beautifully. All the actors had great chemistry and were totally believable, but Miguel Gomez intensity really stands out. They all have a great future ahead of them. If you enjoy small budget action films that rely on actors over special effects this is the movie for you. The story pacing reminds me of Sunset Blvd as you try to untangle the potential motives animating each character. Not all is what it appears to be with every twist and turn. It clocks in at a short 1.5 hours so it's an easy and enjoyable investment to make for a very entertaining film.

Slow start, interesting finish

[kenbond-53805 · 6/10 · 7 April 2017]

Found it strange that two unemployed recent grads were able to convince the home owner that they would be able to take care of this unbelievably beautiful place.

Enter Steelgood. His characterization seemed inconsistent with those of Veronica and Percy. Expecting payback from Percy made sense, though. I've paid-back myself, when younger, to someone who had helped me a lot.

Jump to the end. Seems like Veronica broke into Steelgood's valise, and discovering all that money, grabbed and stowed it, replacing it with useless paper wrapped in $ 100 bills.Nice swap!Ties in to her final comment in the car where she says, "The best lies contain some truth."

Like some other comments, I found the ending confusing.

Awesome film

[elizabethalexander-08284 · 9/10 · 3 October 2016]

Blood in the Water is an intense sexy thriller that revolves around an attractive young LA couple, Veronica (Willa Holland) and Percy (Alex Russell), who while house-sitting in the beautiful Hollywood Hills gets visited by Percy's former frat brother (Miguel Gomez). Freedgood (Miguel Gomez) introduces the couple to the dangerous world of drug-dealing and other criminal activities that kept me in suspense the entire time. It shows the dangers of risky and illegal behavior and shows just how far one would go to keep the appearance of a lavish lifestyle. It also includes an edgy love triangle that adds to the deception and greed of the story. The scandalous behavior between the characters gives the plot momentum and leads to an incredible ending the I never saw coming. It also shows Veronica's skepticism of both men and includes her struggling between her feelings between the two. If you enjoy dramatic and engaging thrillers, I absolutely recommend this one.

Excellent sexy crime thriller

[laurendep · 9/10 · 7 October 2016]

After watching the Blood in the Water film, I was thrilled by the mysterious nature of the film that pushed the audience to question the character's motives and left me on the edge of my seat awaiting for the next unexpected plot twist. This meticulously crafted dramatic thriller set in the striking location of a Los Angeles modern mansion paints a sleek and sexy scenery for the chaos that ensues as a shady and suspicious friend named Freedgood pays an unexpected visit on couple Veronica and Percy's (played by Willa Holland and Alex Russell respectively) ordinary summer vacation. Not only do the three become entangled in a manipulative love triangle, but also their greed and desire cause them to betray those who they always trusted. I was completely captivated by the excellent cast of characters, since their chemistry with one another was apparent, and I was seriously impressed with the well-written dialogue that allowed me to be completely immersed in the scene as if I was alongside the characters as their lives are flipped upside down. I absolutely recommend watching this incredible film!

Awesome, suspenseful flick

[jamescentre · 4 October 2016]

Blood in the Water tells the story of a dangerous love triangle tangled in a web of greed and deception. Willa Holland and Alex Russel star as Veronica and Percy, a young New York couple who have been tasked with care-taking a luxurious L.A. home for the summer. Along comes their old college buddy Freedgood (Miguel Gomez) who comes to them with an alluring but dangerous business proposition. But when the couple learns that Freedgood is looking for more from them than just a little bit of assistance, this leads to a downward spiral into violence and betrayal. Featuring a colorful set and fantastic cinematography, Blood in the Water kept me on the edge of my seat!

Mind-Warping Thriller

[cody-32402 · 10/10 · 3 October 2016]

Blood in the Water is a thriller about a dangerous love-triangle set in the alluring backdrop of the Hollywood Hills. The Cummings Brothers deliver a mind-warping narrative that will make you realize things are not as they seem. The introduction of the characters leaves us with many questions when we first meet a battered and bruised young couple, Percy (Alex Russel) and Veronica (Willa Holland). We then learn that they are suspected in the murder of their associate, which propels the suspenseful story forward. We're eventually introduced to Veronica's successful ex boyfriend, Freedgood (Miguel Gomez), who threatens the faithfulness of Percy and Veronica's relationship. Personally, what I liked about this film was its charming set design and striking visuals, which immerses you into the glamorous lifestyle of a multi-millionaire living in Hollywood. The film does a fantastic job at balancing the beauty of scenery with the ugliness of underground drug trade. Definitely recommend seeing this.

Intense and Suspenseful

[radhikaroshantorchlight · 9/10 · 5 October 2016]

Blood in the Water is a sexy independent thriller starring Willa Holland and Alex Russell as Veronica and Percy, respectively. The young couple in love spend the summer house sitting a beautiful home on Hollywood Hills overlooking the Los Angeles skyline. All is well until their old college friend, Veronica's ex-boyfriend Freedgood, played by Miguel Gomez, shows up and pulls them into his shady drug business. The film had me engaged from beginning to end with the suspense of what was going to happen next, but also with the incredible cinematography. The shots perfectly captured the Los Angeles lifestyle including the skyline in the background in many scenes and highlighting the lavish production design in upscale home they are in. Filmmakers Ben and Orson Cummings really know how to capture the beauty of Hollywood Hills, while still telling a compelling story about about love, greed and deception.