The demonic subgenre of horror films is rife with reimaginings of The Exorcist, Rosemary's Baby, and The Omen. The bulk of these offerings often imitate the foundations by repackaging familiar elements with socially relevant commentary and ever evolving special effects. A precious few of these films find success with both critics and audiences, such as Ari Aster's 2018 masterwork, Hereditary. Horror auteur Richard LeMay's Blood Bound is a welcomed member of the latter. Fusing expected tropes of demons, witches, and prophecy into a bifurcated story of love, betrayal, and destiny, this is one of the best horror films of the year thus far.
In a backwoods American town, three teenage criminals are beset
upon by a coven of witches, the result of which leaves one of their members
pregnant with a child whose birth will fulfill a demonic pact made centuries
ago. Matters become complicated when the youngest member of the witches
falls for the lamb before the slaughter. LeMay's script swirls multiple
plates simultaneously in an attempt to garner sympathy for all of the
characters, not just the "good guys". This is one of the most
striking aspects as there are virtually no true heroes within LeMay's rural
tempest. Eden Brolin's Kerry is the most intriguing, leading double lives
of civil service and dangerous tomfoolery. Her evolution, particularly
during the final act is extraordinary. One of Bound's greatest achievements is its ability to make you care for
atypically cold characters. As Kerry and her friends descend into
darkness and death, there are several kill scenes that linger in the mind's
eye, desperately grasping at "what if" straws, as the viewer is
forced to confront multiple instances of life ended far too soon.
Vitaly Bokser's crisp cinematography captures the natural
surroundings of the town in various wide shots bathed in different gradients of
light, simulating Kerry's journey from elegiac innocence to a tortured and
soiled existence. The beauty, and dangerous wonder of the New York
countryside is injected into the middle of a supernatural crucible, blending reality
with the paranormal to create and aura of disbelief that descends upon
Kerry. While there are monsters and brutal killings dappled throughout,
it is Brolin's devastating arc that is perhaps the most terrifying because it
reveals a truth: Every child eventually loses innocence and perhaps even hope
in their fellow man.
Now available for digital streaming, Blood Bound is a compact horror story enshrouded in an almost
synthetic package that irrevocably distances itself from the warmth of
humanity. This in turn creates an deliciously
oppressive atmosphere that never relents for the duration of the film.
While its budget may show at times, LeMay's outstanding direction, coupled with
Brolin's exceptional performance elevates Blood
Bound above the mediocrity that has taken over horror films for the last 30
years.
--Kyle Jonathan