Rent Bloodthirsty (2020)

A slow study of character manipulation and emotional issues with a 'monster' sub-plot - Bloodthirsty review by BG

Bloodthirsty is NOT a monster movie. If you've been attracted by the wildly mis-representative DVD art, walk away now; you're not about to get an exciting/horrifying stalk & slash monster thriller, and I know how much that would annoy me if I came in with those expectations.

Bloodthirsty is actually a fairly navel-gazing character study of 'Grey' (Lauren Beatty) who we're told has had a big hit album, but is struggling with huge self-doubt and pretty intrusive mental health issues as she tries to create a follow-up. In her desperation, she accepts an offer of help from reclusive record producer Vaughan Daniels (Greg Bryk), a talented eccentric who has lived in the wilderness in seclusion ever since he was accused of murdering his partner.

Going along for the ride against her better judgement is Charlie (Katharine King So), Grey's girlfriend, who has concerns about Vaughan's motives and the effect that the pressure and isolation might have on Grey's already strained emotions.

From there, the movie largely turns into a character drama about the positive and negative tensions between the three as Vaughan tries to drive Grey to new heights, Grey tries to let go of the issues holding her back, and Charlie watches the worrying developments and tries to rein things in.

We get a lot of scenes of Grey trying to record music, a lot of scenes of Vaughan being pushy. Some of these are interesting and feel authentic, as Vaughan guides and shapes Grey's unfinished ideas into something more rounded and coherent. Others just feel a little self-indulgent. The music (by 'Lowell') is heavily featured - understandably as they helped to write the film - but it's hard to imagine that Grey has ever had a hit album. The character never seems to bring enough confidence, charisma or talent to proceedings to lend this credibility, and the music by Lowell is interesting and occasionally verges on catchy, but never into 'this character had a huge hit record' territory.

The monster movie aspects are also held back pretty hard for almost all of the film, emerging briefly for very short bursts, before emerging for the climax. Michael Ironside serves barely any purpose as Grey's therapist in a role that could've been played more cheaply by an unknown. His casting exists purely to pull people to the film.

We found it interesting as a drama, and also as a film that blends psychological illness issues and werewolf lore, but it would be disingenuous to remotely call it a monster movie; the werewolf aspects could almost just be written off as a result of Grey's fractured psyche if it wasn't for some moderate gore.

If you want an interesting slow-burn character drama, this is worth a shot. If you want a werewolf movie, head rapidly in the other direction.

Tedious, arty. navel-gazing, MeToo werewolf hokum - Bloodthirsty review by PV

Tedious film -very pretentious, woke, right-on with female leads and same-sex relationships etc. However ticking such pc boxes does not a decent film make.

This is slow. pretentious, with pretty lame limp mediocre music too - as written by one of the female leads. Rather unsurprisingly, no song penned or sung by her has been a hit...

One wonders how such films get funding but then so may have in the post MeToo era.

Do yourselves a favour and rewatch American Werewolf in London or perhaps Severance for a good horror ride with werewolves etc.

Lame special effects too. Was gonna be 2 stars but the final act made that 1 star. Avoid.