Bleed with Me

It wasn't bad but it wasn't very good either. A bit slow. I paused it to make a brew and actually forgot to put it back on as I went googling for something else to watch. I watched the rest and was, overall, unimpressed. I don't know who made it and I didn't know the actors but they were good. I hope they get a chance in something better.

All the technical aspects are fine. Marshall does a great job of portraying an awkward introvert. It's just that the overall story is very thin and stretched out slowly. Couple and a new friend go off to a cabin, there's talking, lots of talking, I get they're establishing the characters but this drags out. Anyway, it's a "is this really happening or am I crazy?" plot once it gets going, and it does that part well. There's just not much to it to make for a solid film.

It's not a horror movie, it's a psychological movie. Get that out of the way first. A lot of reviewers are upset that there weren't zombies or vampires. And some seem upset about "diversity" and "women films," but we know where the come from so... yeah.

Both women in the cast are damaged in various ways, but one is definitely more damaged than the other, and the slow unfolding lets you know who that is (although I suppose there is some ambiguity if you would like to keep wondering at the end). I thought they did a great job of evolving the characters, dropping casually into the dialog little clues that explain the backstories and motivations of the characters.

Over all it is sad, not horrifying. It's not the greatest film ever made, but having spent a lot of Covid watching some truly terrible films, I thought this one was well worth the time spent watching.

To me yes there are some good concepts and ideas floating around somewhere in this slow burner... I appreciate this type of movie - that is a more slow moving, well shot psychological drama but sometimes... I mean I absolutely loved the Blackcoat's Daughter but this film is well short of that....

So sure, build to a crescendo... string us along... give us little bits and pieces and clues. This is why I give the movie a 5 because at times it was interesting and I'm wondering.. 'what is really going on here?'

For some here I read reviews that are happy with this film, and while not a total waste of time for me it just fell short. Less sometimes... is just less.

This has a lean cast (three people) and a lean runtime. It's an ambiguous slow burn with two impressive central performances (the third isn't bad either, but has less to do). If you like stripped-back horror that leaves things to your own interpretation then this is well worth your time.