Blood River (2009) User Reviews

It's OK

[mcdharma · 4/10 · 1 December 2009]

I was definitely let down by this film. This is partly my fault for having high expectations due to someone else's post.

The acting is decent enough to carry the film but I was longing for it to end. Was too unbelievable and predictable. The overall plot is a good premise but failed to execute. I was left watching the credits wondering why I watched this movie in its entirety. My only explanation is that I was hoping for some salvation at the end and my prayers were not answered.

I know everyone is a critic so if your like me, take the time to watch it but you will have been warned. Others here hype this into more than it is. Makes me wonder what there favorite horror movie is. This is another good B attempt at a good premise.

Pretty Bad

[stush · 4/10 · 22 April 2009]

There's very little to recommend this picture other than the lead actor's performance. The start was promising, the middle dull, and the final third a mess. The last part of the movie I kept shaking my head in disbelief and trying not to snicker at the disaster on screen. I kept hoping for a payoff but there wasn't one. Oh yeah, the lyrics to the title song playing over the end credits was a hoot.

On a technical note, I'm not sure how this was filmed but the picture quality was poor. It reminded me of a digital picture that had been magnified too large. I saw it during the Atlanta Film Festival on 4/22/09.

Amazing Story and then ?

[scaryoutcome1 · 5/10 · 2 November 2009]

I watched this film not really expecting much and not really knowing much about it.

First of lets see two lovers on a desert highway, crash then end up meeting some weird preacher type figure who likes preying on people. sounds pretty much like every other horror of its type.

your wrong.

okay, the first 20-30mins is kinda boring but nonetheless mildly entertaining. however after the silent 30 min mark, when things start to pick up i found myself glued and guessing till the end.

its starts to become quite an emotional/powerful movie about angels etc that you will either understand or not. The climax of the movie was very entertaining.. and the twist was phenomenal. With this said and with such a good story i think a lot more could of been done with this type of movie. however it is watchable the once.

the acting wasn't so bad either.. the husband was outstanding and the preacher was phenomenal.

all i say is gt past the 30 min mark and you'l be satisfied.. not the best movie out there but watchable.

good directing and camera work too.

meh.

[DiscoViolento · 3/10 · 26 October 2014]

A couple driving through the desert crashes their car due to a blowout and are left stranded. They decide to head for a nearby town called Blood Creek to search for help and meet a mysterious stranger who calls himself Joseph.

The film is directed by Adam Mason, a man whose greatest skill is creating great looking films for very little money, and the film does indeed look great. Unfortunately, it lacks the creative touch that was very apparent in his previous work The Devil's Chair (which I gave a very high score). Indeed, the film feels uninspired and watching it is a bit like going through the motions.

This is a shame, because there is a glimpse of something great hiding within the religious angle that the film takes. I wish that this had been explored in more depth, but instead this is covered by clichés that border on parody.

By far, the worst part of Blood Creek is the characterization of the two leads; the man is aggressive and loud, the woman is passive and dripping with tears. This is the case from the get-go and only gets worse as the film goes on. I assume that this is somewhat intentional, but it crosses the line between believable human flaws and annoying caricature.

The best part is the performance of Andrew Howard as the mysterious traveler Joseph. While he does have the best material to work with, it is pretty clear that he is the one with the acting chops and he pretty much carries the film single-handedly.

Despite the good craftsmanship (cinematography and sound is great), I would recommend watching something else. While Blood Creek is not offensively bad, it presents a handful of moments of annoyance and leaves no lasting impression.

Title doesn't do it justice in my opinion

[bowmanblue · 7/10 · 26 December 2014]

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.

'The truth hurts... but lies... lies kill.' Not that good but well made supernatural thriller.

[poolandrews · 4/10 · 11 May 2011]

Blood River is set in the Nevada desert as loving couple Summer (Tess Panzer) & her husband Clark (Ian Duncan) drive across the lonely open expanses on route to Summer's parents house, while driving along one of the tyres on the car blows out & with no spare Summer & Clark are stranded miles from anywhere in the baking heat of the Nevada desert. Checking a map the only form of civilisation within walking distance is a town called Blood River, the couple walk there but discover Blood River is an abandoned ghost town. Then unexpectedly a stranger turns up, Joseph (Andrew Howard) claims that he ran out of gas & he too seeks help, the three decide to stick together but Joseph has some very strange ideas but it's Summer & Clark who are forced to face up to their sins & pay the price...

Edited, co-written & directed Adam Mason this psychological thriller with a touch of the supernatural about it is well made & has a few nice moments but overall it's pretty forgettable & a bit too ambiguous for my liking. The script explains nothing, there are various ideas & themes thrown in but largely Blood River is a bit of a mystery. I suppose if four separate people watched Blood River it's entirely possible you would get four different interpretations of it but that's more because it's narrative is so bare rather than the fact it's amazingly deep or meaningful. Just what is it all about? The obvious answer is the idea of our sins catching up with us & the idea of what is worse, is committing a sin worse than knowing someone else has & not saying anything? The majority of Blood River features just three character's talking to each other in a single location exchanging thought's, ideas & exploring each others psychology in what has to be said is a fairly dull way. At an hour & three quarters long Blood River takes ages to ask various vague questions & then offer up no answers or explanations. Some of the dialogue is quite sharp, it's well written & has a certain fascination to it but the lack of any answers or explanation becomes very frustrating & Blood River ends up feeling rather pointless. I can't say I hated Blood River but I can't say I particularly liked it either & it is a somewhat frustrating film to watch.

One thing going for Blood River is that it's extremely well made with the scorching Nevada desert playing it's part & almost becoming a character in itself. Don't expect much blood or gore, a guy is shot in the head, someone has two fingers cut off & a woman is seen in a bath with some cuts but nothing else.

Filmed at Gold Point in Nevada the production values are really good, I am pretty sure Blood River had a fairly low budget but you wouldn't tell by looking at it. The acting is very good from the whole cast of three, a wide range of emotions & plenty of screen time give the character's a chance to develop, unfortunately the story does nothing with them.

Blood River is a film that is very well made & looks nice, it has a psychological based story that steers between thriller & horror to decent effect. It's just that there are so many unanswered questions, so many scenes & dialogue exchanges that go nowhere or are left in the balance, I just found it a bit frustrating & not as rewarding as it should have been.

Superlative mystery thriller

[omendata · 7/10 · 5 May 2020]

Andrew Howard steals the show and I would never have guessed he is Welsh as he gives the Texan accent a new swirl and definitive performance par excellence.

Amazing photography, lush landscapes from the initial sweeping road quadcopter zoom to the abandoned hell town of Blood River, acting is great all round and the music and atmosphere is superb. Watch it and weep and maybe watch it twice as there is a lot in this that you won't take in first time round for sure!

A movie with depth and meaning that might be lost on some and a moral lesson for society and pretty current with what is happening all over the world to the little children!

Great movie; ranks alongside Dust Devil as my favourite desert scene horor mystery movie!

Blood River is bloody awful...they try to take it seriously but it bores!

[Robert_duder · 3/10 · 26 March 2011]

No one loves dark horror slasher flicks better than me especially if it follows a certain formula and to me Blood River had all the makings of that great horror genre. Isolation, ghost town, mysterious stranger, stranded in the desert, a distinct western feel how could it go wrong? Well it can go wrong by just being boring. Gore is at a bare minimum and while the dark stranger and isolation would seem to be an easy setting for some nice intensity and thriller like qualities but instead the film crawls at a snails pace and you just want it to be over, a true disappointment.

Ian Duncan and Tess Panzer play the young married couple who find themselves in a terrible accident in the desert. Ian Duncan looks crazed and insane right from square one. I think he looks the scariest of everyone and if overacting was an award he could take it home easily. Tess Panzer is great eye candy and she does the scream queen thing decently but it is just absurd how quickly and easily she trusts the strange cowboy. Ian Duncan plays the strange cowboy and psycho. In a better written and directed and created film he and his character might have been solid because he has enough experience as an actor but then they all do but this drivel of a story doesn't help.

I think the biggest issue with Blood River is the pacing of the story. It just seems to go on and on and doesn't have enough twists and turns to keep you riveted to the story. The cast has very very little chemistry with each other whether its the husband and wife or either of them to killer you just don't sense any chemistry. Director Adam Mason apparently loves straight to video horror flicks having directed a handful of other ones which I have not seen and I hope for his sake he gets a better script to work with. I read a lot of reviews both on IMDb and independently and some of them were reasonably good calling this a creepy western, and well thought out and a stimulating thriller and I just didn't see it. This one for me was a dud in every sense of the word. 3/10

Dark and pretty decent desert set slow burner

[Bloodwank · 7/10 · 24 November 2010]

After The Devil's Chair, one could be forgiven for not wanting to bother with an Adam Mason film ever again. That wouldn't be the wisest course though, as Blood River is actually quite good. The seductively simple premise follows young couple Clark and Summer, heading to see her parents and announce her pregnancy. After a near fatal crash they land up in the deserted town of Blood River, wherein they make the acquaintance of chain smoking thoughtful hippie type Joseph. Here the fun begins, and I won't go too much into it but things pan out a little differently to how you might think. Now, with this kind of set-up, a film needs good actors and here the film shines. Ian Duncan is pretty handy as the at first cool but increasingly edgy Clark, a yuppie with a bit of a tweak to him while Tess Panzer is equally effective as the bright, pleasant and outgoing Summer. Andrew Howard really sets the film on fire as Joseph though, affability chased by shades of aggression, pulsing menace while drawling wisdom like a latter day seer. Once the three of them get down to interaction things never let up and they have mostly great chemistry, sparking off each other with tension steadily mounting. It's a slow burner with most of the excitement in the last half hour, but the film sets up its foundations well enough that things are fairly nerve rattling. The last half hour is where the film slips up though; it's hard to explain why without spoilers but basically, an important plot point is handled with a level of ambiguity that works against it. I'm all for ambiguity and films letting the audience figure things out for themselves, but here the shading of the point leaves the film morally at sea. Perhaps that was the intention, it certainly had me pondering it afterwards which is rarely a bad thing, but on the other hand I think this is a case where a more direct approach would have worked better. The film also comes into the problem at the end that (like The Devil's Chair), it really isn't as grisly as it should be. Sure there are a couple of good nasty scenes and things are pretty intense, but it misses a chance to really make an impact. Another complaint, though a smaller one is that at the beginning at least the film suffers from too much editing. The setting is wonderful and the cinematography sharp, so the short shot lengths are quite an irritation, they just don't do the location justice. Fortunately this either clears up or the drama covers it because I stopped noticing it after a while and an interesting atmosphere of hot, bleak isolation sets in. One last issue I had is that during some of the bigger dramatic moments the writing falters. Lines that seem a bit out of place or hammy, it brought me out of the film. Still, this is a good romp while it lasts, with Joseph standing out as a pretty fine effort to write an iconic character, some decent drama and a few gnarly scenes. It may lack a little in lasting punch and it has some niggling flaws, but I was pretty entertained throughout. Recommended if it seems like your sort of thing

And we go down to the River, and into the River we repent for our sins?!?

[Coventry · 4/10 · 11 April 2010]

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.

Gritty, and dirty, but manages to be breathtakingly beautiful at the same time.

[Strawberry_Typhoon · 9/10 · 24 June 2010]

Adam Mason has quickly become one of our favorite directors at The Liberal Dead. He has an uncanny ability to take next to no budget, and create something that will blow your mind. "Blood River" is his best film to date, and a true cinematic masterpiece. The story follows Summer(Tess Panzer) and Clark(Ian Duncan) as they travel across the desert to tell Summer's parents that she is pregnant. A car crash that follows what I would say is the most interesting piece of film ever dedicated to a tire blow out, leaves them stranded. The film is set in 1969, so it's not quite as easy as just pulling out their iPhone and calling AAA. Clark, and Summer head out on foot to the nearest town, "Blood River". As the couple arrive, not only is there a cow carcass laying at the entrance to the town to greet them, but there are various skeletal remains scattered across the grounds, and nothing much else. It's completely abandoned. Soon, we're introduced to Joseph(Andrew Howard), who is seen from the distance, appearing out of nowhere. It's made immediately obvious that there's something not right about Joe, but they are so desperate for help at this point, that they're willing to overlook his quirks. Leaving Summer behind, Joseph, and Clark head off into the desert, in an attempt to salvage gas from the crashed car, and siphon it into Joseph's car. This is basically the top of the coaster. It was great up until this point, and the ride just gets better from here.

The cinematography in this film is nothing short of amazing. Ingenious camera angles, coupled with a gorgeous backdrop, and some stunning helicopter angles makes this Mason's most visually appealing movie to date. I really felt, from start to finish that this film should have gotten a wide theatrical release. Mason had a budget of $250,000 to finish this film in a time span of 18 days, so the end result is even more stunning.

"Blood River" isn't a gorefest, but I think it will still appeal to that demographic. It's raw, gritty, and psychologically brutal. Another thing that made me happy was the fact that it doesn't spoon feed it's plot to the viewer. It definitely knows the message it wants to portray, but it leaves a lot of it up to the viewer to decipher. It's rare that a filmmaker gives the audience this kind of credit, instead of insulting our intelligence with flash cut scenes to make sure we got the subtlety. "Blood River" is not like this, it's intelligent at it's core, and it assumes that those watching it are as well.

The acting is superb across the board, but Andrew Howard in particular puts in a powerhouse performance. He's done an amazing job in past films with Mason, but this performance alone put's him at the top of my list for genre favorites. From the moment that he is introduced, until the last frame, Howard is cool as hell.

The atmosphere created is astonishing. It's gritty, and dirty, but manages to be breathtakingly beautiful at the same time. The setting is on a far grander scale than Mason's previous work, spanning across what seems to be a vast desert wasteland, but it still manages to keep a strong level of isolation.

"Blood River" is not an easy film to slap a label on. While it will definitely appeal to fans of the horror genre, fans of really solid dramatic, psychological thrillers will be in for a treat as well. It blends genres seamlessly, and is most definitely Mason's most marketable film to date. For fans of His previous work, such as "Broken" and "The Devil's Chair", don't worry, this movie was made for you as well. It's not a cookie-cutter thriller, and it demands the audiences attention. You're not going to be spoon-fed anything, you're going to have to turn your brain on for this one.

The film is currently available in Germany, has just been listed for pre-order in the UK, and if I'm not mistaken, there will be an announcement shortly about Canadian distribution as well. Unfortunately, there is currently no details available for a US release date for the flick, so if you have some pull at a studio, watch this flick, love it, and make Mason a big fat offer for distribution, you won't regret it.

http://www.liberaldead.com

Hard to decide

[aqos-1 · 7/10 · 28 December 2009]

This is a movie that I think you will either completely love or completely hate. There is a lot of psychology involved. It made me reflect on what sins I have committed and whether one sin is worse than the next. In the movie a couple sets out on a journey. They pass a hitchhiker and refuse to give him a ride. Further in the movie, their car breaks down. They walk to find the nearest town and find it abandoned. Eventuall the hitchhiker shows up and tells them that if they can siphon gas from their car, they car get his car going. From here the relationships among the three take many different turns and by the end, you're not quite sure who did what or if it was all just a trick of the mind. I enjoyed it, but I'm not sure it's for people that are not into dissecting the hidden messages in movies.

For anyone with their head in reality...this is just lazy

[bob_meg · 4/10 · 24 October 2011]

There really should be a disclaimer at the start of films that rely on any form of fantasy to hold a plot together...at least ones that masquerade as a thriller, like "Blood River." To expect us to believe the "avenging angel" nonsense might fly on some Disney TV show or some bible-belt rouser like "In Search of Historic Jesus" but in the context of a traditional horror film, it's just lazy writing.

I can't remember being so let down by a film. This is a very well-made, well-shot, generally well-acted picture that falls apart in its last twenty minutes through a variety of indecipherable and unclear "revelations" all of which may or may not be true. No one knows....no one. Every single post I've read falls back on either the angel explanation (which Mason obviously BELIEVES, according to interviews) or just meanders with semi-plausible, wistful thinking. The killing, torturing savior for Jesus, right? Ugh...fine. You believe...whatever. Don't insult the rest of us with this fairy nonsense.

What really stinks is what a waste this film is. Lots of good character conflict, good dialog, some genuine tension...and it ends in a pseudo-Sunday school lesson. What a gyp.

mixed feeling for this movie

[atinder · 5/10 · 21 April 2013]

Blood River (2009)

This movie as been on my watch list for so long.

This movie is about Clark and Summer, a married couple and Summer is newly-pregnant, and Clark is worried that her father will be critical of him.

Along the way, their car has a blowout and Clark is sure that he put spare in the boot of the car.

It's start of really intruding but the next 45 of minutes, were very slow burner, with nothing much happens and talking to one and other,

When it getting really boring, I was thinking to turn it off ,after that but I am clad I didn't!

The last half hour, were it's really pick up again and more things start to happen, You think this movie is going one way but they really clever with as total throw you off what really happening.

Really good turn in the story, as I didn't not see it coming at all, it kind of makes sense it ending.

The acting was really good from the whole cast in this movie.

5.9 out of 10

Good surprise

[gottfrid · 7/10 · 2 May 2011]

When I see a low budget production(that shows) with clever directing and writing, excellent acting and a touch of "new", I feel like sharing my opinion, because certainly it was a nice surprise. I picked it up at local video rental thinking it to be a stinker, or an exploitation film of some kind. What a surprise. A supernatural thriller, and one that, budget considered, delivers.

It works as a religious version of The Hitcher - actually, it seems like it was written by 80s icon Eric Red.

Acting by the not so large cast is way above average, my compliments to all of them. The actor who played Joseph was quite effective, he surely deserves more chances in the big screen. The girl was beautiful, and could act as well. The guy who played the husband also delivers effectivelly.

In a way, the direction has got a touch of Katryn Bigalow in After Dark - the film is pure 80s and I will probably look for more films of this group.

Alternative cinema is not totally lost. It seems to have found its way, when we see films like those. Guys, you did a good job.

Jesus Jesus Jesus sin sin sin

[opiaterein · 3/10 · 26 April 2021]

I'm a little baffled that this is labeled a psychological thriller. It's not. It's a Christian thriller. If you don't enjoy being preached at, you'll want to avoid this one. The constant moralizing and sermonizing completely distracts from the film's many good qualities.

I'm a big Andrew Howard Fan.

[RatedVforVinny · 7/10 · 11 December 2019]

Solid horror, starring another chilling performance by Andrew Howard (who was in the amazing remake of 'i Spit on Your Grave'). Has a fairly inventive story and many dramatic twists and turns in the plot. Mr A. Howard might be an actor to watch but he's already typecast in these demented roles; which is absolutely fine.

Do Not Waste Your Time

[smartypantsz · 2/10 · 1 March 2016]

OMG... Completely let down by this film. Why did I WASTE MY TIME...??? I simply shouldn't have believed the 'reviews' by others on IMDb. Those reviewers MUST be attached to the film in some way...

Acting leaves something to be desired. A bit of the ol' over-acting bug in this one. I found myself skipping, then skipping some more, longing for it to end. It was just too unbelievable.

It was kind of a good premise but a total failure in execution.

The other reviewers here on IMDb have definitely over-hyped this into more than it actually was. Could have been good - with better actors, a better script,better execution, and perhaps a better director.

Ambitious misfire

[neil-476 · 6/10 · 15 May 2011]

This three-hander is essentially a variation on the theme of the couple who pick up a hitcher who then takes them captive and puts them through all sorts of torture.

Having said that, it has ideas above its station, with pretensions towards a more meaningful subtext. I applaud its ambitions, but it isn't entirely successful in realising them.

The good points are the cinematography, the acting and the music.

The bad points? Well, it is very sluggish at times, and you really wish it would get a move on. And, while Tess Panzer performs well, having one character with hysteria turned up to 11 for a huge proportion of the movie does get a bit wearing after a while: I can't imagine how exhausted she must have been after each day's filming, because I was knackered after an hour watching her.

A really good thriller

[baberuth3 · 8/10 · 30 April 2009]

Blood River is one of the better Indy films I've seen in a long time. The lead actor is exceptional and the rest of the small cast deliver fine and engrossing performances, the look of this film is top draw and the location was right on the money, a spooky ghost town. The story had me memorized and on the edge of my seat. The transformation of the victims were totally engrossing and the climax was horrifying. The style was straight forward and simple, which adds to it's classy film making. All the tension built just fine to a climatic ending. After leaving the the theater, I found myself thinking about some of the bad things I've done in my life and even called a friend to apologize about the thing I did, which he wasn't aware of. It made me search my soul and think a lot about being a better man. Rod Serling would be proud.

Reaping the evil which one has sown in an abandoned town in the desert

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 27 September 2023]

A married couple traveling through desolate Nevada (Ian Duncan and Tess Panzer) wind up stuck in a ghost town with a strange cowboy-like man (Andrew Howard). Can they make it back to civilization alive?

"Blood River" (2009) is a psychological survival drama set in the vast wasteland of the Southwest. While an Indie, it's proficiently made on every level, including the cinematography, score/soundtrack, script, cast and acting. Speaking of the latter, Andrew Howard stands out as the intriguing "free spirit" cowboy, reminiscent of Michael Rooker or a younger Robert Duvall and Jon Voight. Like Harvey Keitel's peculiar drifter in "Finding Graceland," you wonder about who or what he really is, although the proceedings here are decidedly grim by comparison.

Elements of the last act recall the ending of "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," just minus the goofiness and, again, way more dire. I have no doubt that future films like "3 Nights in the Desert" and "Frank and Penelope" were partially influenced by this Indie.

The story delves into how something or someone may look well on the surface, but underneath is hidden evil and the corresponding ugliness or death, not to mention impending judgment (if the person refuses to 'fess up, that is). Writer/director Adam Mason respects the intelligence of the viewer to put the pieces of the puzzle together without spelling everything out. The answers are there for anyone who cares, but those uninterested in psychology and biblical spirituality will likely find it dull or annoying.

The movie runs 1 hour, 44 minutes, and was shot at Gold Point, Nevada, which is a 3-hour drive northwest of Vegas and a 40-minute drive from the border of central California. Additional stuff was done in Los Angeles.

GRADE: B.

I Know What You Have Done

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 22 June 2010]

Clark Ewald (Ian Duncan) and his pregnant wife Summer (Tess Panzer) drive in a lonely road through the desert of Nevada traveling to the house of her parents. They pass by a walker dressed like a cowboy and later they stop for the night in a motel. In the morning they return to the road while the cowboy leaves the inn keeper in the bathroom of his room with a cross carved in her forehead and her wrists cut. Fifty miles far the hotel, the couple has a car accident when the tire bursts. They decide to walk to the next town that is six miles ahead, but they find a ghost town. Out of the blue, the stranger arrives in the town and introduces himself as Joseph (Andrew Howard). He gives attention to Summer and Clark has frictions with him. Sooner Joseph that claims to be an angel of God weakens the bonds between Summer and Clark and dark secrets are disclosed about the choice Clark has chosen in life.

"Blood River" is one of the most anguishing films I have ever seen, with an original story of sin and punishment. The plot is supported by the excellent performances of the unknown Andrew Howard, Tess Panzer and Ian Duncan associated to a tight direction of Adam Mason from "The Devil's Chair" (I hate "Broken"). The camera has awesome angles and the atmosphere increasingly gets darker and darker. The unexpected conclusion is frightening and disturbing and the viewer never clearly knows what he has done what makes the movie scarier and open to interpretations. The soundtrack is awesome, specially the song "Blood River" that plays in the credit. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Rios de Sangue" ("Blood Rivers")

Definitely a movie to put on your list

[dschmeding · 9/10 · 25 October 2009]

"Blood River" is a real surprise... I did not expect much and was pretty much blown away since everything in this movie seems to fit perfectly until the song in the credits.

The movie starts with a couple heading through the desert and passing a cowboy style guy. They stop in a motel where he re-appears and his face first shows when he lays prayers on the motel owner who ends up slitting her own wrists with a cross carved in her forehead. The couple continues their journey just to have a tire burst and be stuck in the middle of the desert and end up in an abandoned town called "Blood river". I was expecting the whole thing to turn into a cheesy horror movie but it doesn't. Cowboy guy soon re-appears, introduces himself as Jo and starts playing mind games with the couple, the tension between him and the husband rises slowly and the whole atmosphere captures you. There's awesome shots of the desert since right in the title sequence, the acting is stunning and carries a lot of the movie. The final revelation between Jo and the wife is awesome and I hope actress Tess Panzer has a bright future ahead of her since I haven't been captured by such solid acting for a while.

The first half of the movie unfolds a little like Kalifornia with the mysterious psycho unmasking his character piece by tiny piece and the dread rising slowly. The tension is thick like in Wolf Creek but there's plenty of hints thrown in that Jo is not the psycho killer you expect at first. All the pieces come together in the end when the constant bible preaching in the radio, the re-appearing crosses and Jos strange philosophical and religious monologues start to make sense.

"Blood River" after all is a movie about sin and repentance ... the basic idea has been the a hundred times before, but the movie manages to leave enough room for the viewer to reflect the impressions on himself. I wonder if I was the only one having the credits roll to the end while listening to the dark title song in the end and thinking of my own wrongdoings. If a movie manages to capture you that deep in its atmosphere that is quite an achievement. I know some of the directors previous movies like "Broken" but none remotely comes close to this one. "Blood River" is one of those rare underground gems I found on the sidelines of the horror genre which I am surely going to recommend to every movie fanatic I meet. So be sure to put it on your list too!

Job well done !!!

[beverlypress · 9/10 · 1 May 2009]

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 !!!

The actors

[costa1-1 · 9/10 · 29 April 2009]

I saw this movie a few times and it keeps getting better every time i see it.

This movie will make you think of all the bad you did in your life and want to repent.

From the very beginning you will be wondering why is Joseph killing people and then BAM... there it is,Great movie.

This is a well written and filmed movie.

I believe the actors did a great job as well.

I have seen other movies from this company and they are good as well. The scenes are great and the locations make you wonder about where did all the people go from the town