Bloodride (2020) User Reviews

A solid Norwegian horror anthology

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 29 March 2020]

This Norwegian series is made up of six unrelated stories. Each one follows characters as things get increasingly creepy and lead to a 'twist' ending. Like another reviewer I was reminded of 'Tales of the Unexpected'... as with that series the twists aren't too surprising but that didn't spoil my enjoyment. There were a few gory moments but nothing that is likely to disturb horror fans. Inevitably some episodes are better than others but I still enjoyed them all. Many had scenes that made me wince and one genuinely gave me the chills. I'd certainly recommend this to fans of the genre; if you don't like it you won't waste too much time as the episodes are only thirty minutes long.

The series is available both in the original Norwegian, with subtitles if needed, and dubbed. I watched the first episode in English and wasn't too keen on the dubbing; so much so that when I realised there was a subtitle option I re-watched it and enjoyed it more.

Fantastic little surprise.

[i_love_hippos · 7/10 · 29 March 2020]

I didn't hear anything about this show. I just saw it on netflix shows. Since I love horror movies, I thought I'd give it a try. I like how the episodes are only 30 mins. It gets right to the point and doesn't drag on. Some of the episodes were better then others, I really liked Sarafice , 3 sick brothers and the old school best! I also enjoyed the intro, it's so spooky!

A mediocre effort

[Wizard-8 · 5/10 · 21 March 2020]

I've always found great enjoyment with the anthology drama both in print and on the screen, for the format often makes some great stories with unexpected twists. So when this Norwegian anthology TV show came on Netflix, I eagerly started to watch it. But quite frankly, I was disappointed. The fault simply lies with the scripts. Many of the stories have twists you'll most likely find very predictable, especially if you have seen plenty of anthologies beforehand as I had. But even the stories that are less predictable suffer from pacing that is very slow and will have you eventually urging the episode to just get on with it. I will give that the makers of this series managed to generate acceptable production values despite having a budget much lower that what you would get for an American television series. And it's not the worst anthology I have seen (that dubious honor goes to the Canadian made for TV movie "Mania"). But I would only recommend this show if you are truly desperate for an anthology show and can't find anything better to watch.

I like it

[cristinamariasolem · 7/10 · 16 March 2020]

With Norwegian movies and shows it's really a hit or miss, especially the dialogue can seem too rehearsed. I really enjoyed this one, although many episodes are more thriller/psychological than horror but still right up in my alley. I really appreciate that they chose to cast colored, talented actresses like Sanna in ep 5 which is rare in Norwegian productions. I hope to see her in many more shows as she's truly a great actress!

Norwegian version of Black mirror

[cyanidefor-fun · 7/10 · 13 March 2020]

It's more or less Netflix's Black mirror just that It's in Norwegian and Norway. But every episode is more or less a horror story to some degree, always resulting in a characters death, which seems to be the point. The description might be somewhat misleading as the series opening features a mysterious bus heading to an unknown destination, onboard is all the passengers that has been killed during the episodes. Otherwise it was an enjoyable little show. Decent acting and enjoyable stories and some of them ending in a pretty cool twist. 7/10

I found it a decent series

[iGlad · 7/10 · 17 March 2020]

This reminded me of Tales of the unexpected more so than Black Mirror but then again I am older than most on here.

Overall quite good.

[berg-74532 · 7/10 · 26 March 2020]

Even with some well known horror tv and movie tropes and a couple of obvious story lines apparent 5 mins in it is very entertaining. My guess on the obvious plots may have to do with the money men not believing in the project, the unknowns involved or that they wanted well worn horror movie/tv (I hate this word) tropes with some lost in translation fears on top. I think the talent (actors, directors, writers) all understood that when it comes to horror the basics monsters mental illness/serial killers are great and easy to do in many ways, new and culturally diverse are appreciated for showing us new terrors mix in with are own. I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on Norwegian TV/movie Horror or even American horror but when I saw any of the truly odd 1950s Italian horror movies I was immediately drawn in to what the weirdness was and sometimes I didn't read the translation or just forgot they were there. While i understand wanting to making something appeal to as broad a group as possible that's not as important when it involves horror. I do have one major issue overall the music was distracting and did not add to the experience or as far as I'm concerned compliment the story in any way but it a small part of the picture. If you generally like horror anthology in all their forms you'll like this if you bare with a couple less original story lines before it gets going telling new ones

I thought it was good

[halana · 8/10 · 16 March 2020]

After reading some reviews here I was a bit surprised of the low ratings. I actually really enjoyed this serie and found it hard to stop watching. Yes there is a lot of blood and deaths but every episode has such a surprising element in it.

Very Enjoyable Would Love to See More!

[icocleric · 7/10 · 14 January 2022]

Naturally with being an anthology some stories are going to be more enjoyable than others, but it was a very solid overall enjoyable horror series. I think some horror stories work much better being shorter. So the series format of these works very well and none of the stories overstay their welcome.

Another reviewer said "Twilight Zone in colour" and the way they all learn a lesson during their episode, and then get on this bus. I can really see that. I found it all very enjoyable though.

Bad writing makes this annoying

[madsholvik · 3/10 · 5 April 2020]

I really like Black Mirror and other creative series, especially I like that each episode stands on it's own. I thought Blodtur might be good, but most of the episodes are annoying. The writing is just bad. I read an interview with the script writer where he said he found the stories in the back of his drawer and some even he wrote in high school. I have no idea why people rate this 7 or 8 and think it's great. It's not! Netflix could just have quality controlled the script and it would easily be better.

Nice, Simple, Dark, Semi-Comical... and underrated(?)

[exlana · 8/10 · 27 March 2020]

The rating of Bloodride is currently at 6.7 at the moment. Surprisingly really low, with average episodes rating 6. Bloodride is actually pretty cool. It's not an extra, big budgeted nor have high quality writing. But it's still amusing, i really enjoyed watching it. And there's always a "twist" ending that was unexpected (at least for me). The story is "different" and simple, It's not super gory or intense. It's worth checking out. Definitely underrated, on IMDb level, Bloodride should at least get a 7.8

So fun!!!

[mTopoMax_deleted · 7/10 · 24 March 2020]

All I'll say is: a hell of a lot of fun...from Scandinavia, again. The photography is also flawless!

Not even scary

[and-46245 · 1/10 · 20 May 2022]

I've managed to watch 3 out of 6 episodes and they've all been severely lacking in anything even remotely scary. There is no suspense, most of it has been set in daylight, nothing is obscured or surprising and you will be able to predict the "twists".

It feels like the first time these writers have written horror, honestly. Or maybe it was made for a much younger audience but even then I can't see how they'd enjoy this. It's full of tired, beaten-up tropes and shallow predictability. Parts of it are even laughable.

I can't let go of how when a guy gets his fingers bitten off, he just yells a bit and that's it. Someone calls him on a phone right after and he just sits there without his fingers on one hand like it didn't just happen. Really awful.

Like it Could of loved it But ...

[Ultrazed159 · 6/10 · 17 March 2020]

This show starts of weird and gets weirder as it goes on. Some of these episodes are great scary creepy and very in depth for a half hour episode. but 2 of these episodes weren't great for me which was disappointing as i really loved the good ones and if the consistency was there it would make this series great. watch these episodes in any order because you'll enjoy it more as i did because i found watching them in the order they appear was difficult because of the poor episodes.

It's just a waste of time.

[melisamrll · 14 March 2020]

I hardly watched it until half of the third episode.

Rating should be higher

[heleneulv · 7/10 · 26 September 2023]

No idea why the bus is involved, but this is an anthology of dark stories, a bit similar to "Inside no. 9" (though not quite as good). The genre varies nicely: from classic supernatural horror to psychological thriller. It's not exceedingly gory, and doesn't have jump scares.

Karakterdrap, I thought, was wonderful. For the other episodes something that makes the rating 7 rather than 8 or 9 is that some of the twists are a little half-baked. First, some of them become obvious a little earlier than the plot suggests they should. Second - and most important - after we see the twist, there's not enough time and context given to fully appreciate it. It's missing the foreshadowing that would make you go "oooh... that explains that little detail earlier". At the same time it doesn't spend any time after the twist to show the alternative side of the story that we hadn't seen (it's usually just given in one or two sentences), so I'm often left with questions that I wish were explored a little more.

Norway Another Hit

[stevebrooker · 7/10 · 8 April 2021]

I have watched a few series and movies through various streaming companies, and I find Norway seems to kick goals You do see a few of the same actors but they are quality actors and in Bloodride it's another goal kicked.

"Twilight Zone" in color

[Bored_Dragon · 6/10 · 24 August 2020]

"Bloodride" is a Norwegian anthology horror series, which is very reminiscent of the legendary "Twilight Zone". It consists of six unrelated half-hour films that should cause chills and lead us to reflect on life values. But do they succeed ...

6/10

Ultimate Sacrifice

Reminded me of "Pet Sematary" 19 August 2020

The first episode tells the story of a family that was forced by financial problems to move from the city to the countryside. While the father and the daughter see a new beginning in this, the mother is desperate to return to the city. When she discovers an ancient sacrificial altar in the forest, her desire to put her family back on its feet grows into a psychotic obsession.

Apart from the fact that neither the premise nor the elaboration of it bring anything new, this clichéd horror story is additionally sabotaged by the duration of only half an hour, which is not enough for decent characterization, so you won't be attached to characters at all, nor to make the psychological transformation of the protagonist convincing. And the final twist is totally predictable. The episode is somewhat saved only by decent acting.

5/10

Three Sick Brothers

"Open the box and let the monkey out, cause the monkey wanna play with you" 20 August 2020

After three years in a psychiatric institution, the young man returns home and goes with his brothers to the family cabin in the woods where they spent their childhood. Along the way, they pick up a young hitchhiker and things start to get complicated.

This short film also does not bring anything new, but recycles the horror and thriller motifs that have been seen many times. But unlike the first episode, it combines them very nicely into a story that holds attention. The very good acting of all three brothers also contributes to the story's strength. Although the final twist is not at all original, I must admit that I did not see it coming and it achieved the desired effect.

7/10

Bad Writer

That's what I was hoping for 22 August 2020

"Bad Writer" is what I was hoping for when I decided to watch "Bloodride". Very interesting premise, unexpectedly well worked out and with more surprises in just half an hour. A surreal atmosphere like in a dream, or a nightmare, and a good pace hold attention and the twists are really effective. In every way better than the previous two episodes, except for the acting, although it may be intentionally campy.

8/10

Lab Rats

Whodunit 23 August 2020

The fourth episode abandons the horror genre and brings us a pretty good "whodunit" mystery, with a clever unfolding and final twist that is totally predictable but karmically satisfying. Best acting so far.

7/10

The Old School

Haunted house 23 August 2020

A young teacher comes to a remote place to teach at a school that reopens after forty years, and in which four children went missing in the 1970s. A typical story about a haunted house, with an atmosphere creepy enough for "beginners", but for horror fans this is lemonade. I can't complain about anything particular, but it just doesn't leave a stronger impression. The final twist is nicely done, but it is not enough to elevate the episode from mediocrity.

6/10

The Elephant in the Room

Lousy 24 August 2020

The idea is unoriginal, the development of the story is linear and boring, the final twist is the most predictable in the series, and the overall impression is a complete disappointment. If it was longer I would probably give up before the end.

3/10

Many different deeply mentally involved Stories. Brilliant!

[djandybit · 9/10 · 16 March 2020]

The whole concept is cool and has a great potential. The fact that every single episode treats a different concept and point of view, opens new ways to discuss, debate or think about what you have just seen. Arguments are fresh, contemporary and on point. The first season is well curated and powerful.

Seems pretty amateurish

[TimDiesel · 4/10 · 23 September 2020]

Like many others, I like the anthology style. But the level of script writing here seems - like the title says - amateurish. Tales from the crypt seems downright Shakespearean compared to this. I could see something like this playing at 3 am on showtime in the 90s. It could be entertaining at times, but it's pretty low brow.

Fun, horror anthology series!

[redemptions_love · 8/10 · 26 March 2020]

I was looking for something new to watch, and I am a horror fan, so I was happy to see this new horror anthology series appear on Netflix. I found it very easy and fun to watch :) I didn't find it to be scary for me, but I personally don't need horror to be to enjoy it. I liked each different short story, so much so that 6 episodes wasn't enough for me! I really hope there will be a second season.

So campy and predictable

[lumosnight · 4/10 · 31 March 2020]

I actually watched the entire first season - as someone who gets scared easily, I was laughing and rolling my eyes at how bad the episodes were. The characters were all awkward - I don't know if that is part of Norwegian culture, but the people there behaved like they were interacting with other human beings for the first time in their lives. So awkward and blunt, it was like watching kindergartners in adult bodies communicating with each other. The characters don't seem to challenge information that is given to them or think for themselves. They readily accept when they told that something is supernatural or a piece of information that might very likely be a lie. Also, no one ever thinks of properly fighting back, either verbally or physically, when their lives are in danger. They just... let it happen. The plans that the villains pull off simply cannot be done if you think about it - they are too fallible, and the audience is asked to suspend their disbelief, very often. And finally, the plots are very predictable. You can guess from the first few minutes how the story will unravel and the 'twists' have been ripped off from famous horror movies. So why did I watch it? It was still fun and dare I say, for laughs. Thank you for giving me comedy nights Norway!

Really enjoyable!

[WellWellWellWellWell · 10/10 · 22 March 2020]

Iceland has some top notch cinematic skills. The stories are a mixture of classic horror and modern thriller. Mostly reminding me of R.L. Stines Goosebumps kind of plots, but for grown ups.

Don't forget to put the audio to original on Netflix!!!

Horrible

[devinbrown-19091 · 1/10 · 11 May 2020]

These episodes are like children wrote them. 100% predictable, unoriginal, derivative garbage.

A simple anthology every horror fan needs

[daryopeek · 9/10 · 9 April 2020]

Admit it, as much as we love series, the format won't let any final episode in each season without an open ending. It's frustrating, and that's why I like series with anthology format so that we could binge randomly without missing anything, and still have a pretty "final" ending. Bloodride, is actually my first encounter to Netflix's horror anthology series. Despite of its number of episodes (ugh, I want more!), Bloodride gives a fun viewing experience for a horror fan.

As a whole series, I feel that they are not quite connected in a similar theme, however they share a simple, eeriee premise, to a twisting climax. Most of the climax are quite tricky, some of them also easy to decipher. However, the format allows the story to be not too prolonged so that the stories are easy to chew and digest. A straightforward horror, without too much added subplots or jumpscares, with an interesting story to make us stay to the end. Since the producers seem to be keen to focus on the stories, probably those who like more jumpscares will have to give more effort to munch this series, but I assure you most of them are worth it!

I feel the only letdown of this series is they don't seem to able to connect the episodes with something thematic. Sure, they have this same five minutes opening sequences with the characters from all episodes sit in an old bus, but honestly, after watching the episodes some of the characters doesn't seem to have something in common, let it be the ending or the sense of the stories. But, rest assured that if you love a simple horror story, that shouldn't be a problem, because this (short) series will give you just what you want, without any cliffhanger.