My quick rating - 3.1/10. I wasn’t entirely sure why Night of Blood ended up on my horror watch list. Then I saw Corey Taylor was in the cast, and suddenly the mystery was solved. Apparently, my brain saw “Corey Taylor” and “horror” in the same sentence and decided this was worth investigating. Unfortunately, the investigation uncovered more of a crime scene than a good movie.
The film starts off in a diner, where a waitress appears to be locked in a never-ending battle with a simple food order. It is an impressive level of incompetence, almost like the movie is warning us of what to expect. From there, we meet a group of people receiving mysterious invitations to participate in a cash-prize endurance challenge at the infamous Val Verde Hotel. A location known for a deadly explosion and the usual “probably haunted but definitely should not be visited” reputation.
The setup sounds promising. A group of strangers trapped overnight in a haunted hotel while competing for a briefcase full of cash? Sure, there is potential there. Unfortunately, these contestants barely make it through introductions before immediately hating each other. Forget supernatural threats. The real horror is having to spend a night locked in a building with people you met five minutes ago and already want to leave behind.
Instead of a traditional masked killer stalking the group, Night of Blood goes for supernatural hauntings and immersive scares. The film shows most of the interesting moments off camera, leaving us to watch the aftermath. The movie repeatedly hints at better scenes than what we get to see.
The kills are nothing special. The “killer” element is about as memorable as a background extra, and the film spends an unusual amount of time treating ammonia and bleach like they are the ultimate horror movie weapons. Apparently, cleaning supplies are the real villains here. Somewhere, a hazardous materials safety inspector is having a panic attack.
There is one particular scene involving two of the female contestants that feels like the movie briefly remembers it needs to entertain the audience. Whether that was meant to add tension, attract more viewers, or simply check off a “we need something people will talk about” box is anyone’s guess.
And back to Corey Taylor. He plays Dusty, the bartender at the hotel, and the movie even makes sure we hear Slipknot playing on the radio. But outside of that, his presence feels completely unnecessary. I have no idea what music Corey Taylor contributed to this film, why he was chosen for the role, or what in the world he was thinking in accepting it?
By the end, Night of Blood leaves the door wide open for a sequel. Unfortunately, that door is probably opening into an empty room because I’m not sure anyone is rushing to spend another night at the Val Verde Hotel.
No comments:
Post a Comment