Bloodletting (film)

Last updated
Bloodletting
Bloodletting (1997) DVD cover.jpg
DVD cover
Directed byMatthew Jason Walsh
Written byMatthew Jason Walsh
Starring
Distributed byTempe Video
Release date
  • 1997 (1997)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Bloodletting is a 1997 American direct-to-video horror film written and directed by Matthew Jason Walsh [1] [2] and executive produced by J. R. Bookwalter. [3] The film was shot-on-video, [4] and stars James L. Edwards as Butch Harlow, a serial killer who is blackmailed by young woman Serena Stalin (Ariauna Albright) into taking her on as his apprentice. [2] [5]

Contents

Bloodletting was preceded by a 1995 short film, I've Killed Before, [6] [7] also directed by Walsh and starring Edwards and Albright.

Cast

Reception

Cinefantastique and Video Movie Guide both commended the performances of the film's cast. [1] [8] A reviewer for Fangoria described Bloodletting as having "a smart script, a playful sense of humor and a solid rapport between the leads", praising its editing and noting "plenty of amusing twists and gruesome FX". [9] John W. Bowen of Rue Morgue called the film "so much more tightly focused than most of its peers", writing: "If microbudget shot-on-vid horror is to remain viable, a lot of filmmakers would do well to study the ways in which Bloodletting compensates for its low production values with solid performances and tight scripting, neither of which costs a dime." [2] The film received moderate praise from critic Joe Bob Briggs, who complimented its gore but asserted that it "ends up with a 'Who will they kill next?' plot that doesn't always hold your attention." [10]

Home media

On August 19, 2003, Bloodletting received a "special edition" DVD release by Tempe Video. [6] In 2022, Tempe Digital and Makeflix restored and released the film on Blu-ray. [11]

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References

  1. 1 2 Martin, Mick; Porter, Marsha (2000). Video Movie Guide 2001. Ballantine Books. p. 118. ISBN   0-345-42099-3.
  2. 1 2 3 Bowen, John W. (September–October 2001). "The Three Ms of Serial Murder" (PDF). Rue Morgue . No. 23. p. 44. ISSN   1481-1103.
  3. ↑ Lentz III, Harris M. (2001). Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits, Volume 2: Filmography (Second ed.). McFarland & Company. p. 912. ISBN   0-7864-0951-7.
  4. ↑ Gingold, Michael (December 20, 2018). "Exclusive Comments, Plus Trailer and Posters: SOV Veteran Turns Director with "Her Name Was Christa"". Rue Morgue . Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  5. ↑ Collum, Jason Paul (January 2002). "Guerilla Filmmaker: J.R. Bookwalter". Femme Fatales . Vol. 11, no. 1. p. 12. ISSN   1523-5750.
  6. 1 2 "Bloodletting (Remastered Special Edition DVD)". TempeVideo.com. Tempe Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 9, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  7. ↑ Lindenmuth, Kevin J. (1998). Making Movies on Your Own: Practical Talk from Independent Filmmakers. McFarland & Company. p. 6. ISBN   978-0786405176.
  8. ↑ "Cinefantastique". Cinefantastique . Vol. 29, no. 12. 1998. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  9. ↑ Dr. Cyclops (November 1997). "The Video Eye of Dr. Cyclops". Fangoria . No. 168. Starlog Group, Inc. ISSN   0164-2111.
  10. ↑ Briggs, Joe Bob (July 25, 1997). "This rates a 10 on barf-bag scale". Orlando Sentinel . p. 100. Retrieved July 8, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Bloodletting". Makeflix.com. Makeflix. Archived from the original on July 9, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
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