White Blood

If you want a blockbuster then this is not the movie for you!

Rather it's a thought provoking, moving film about the fragility of life.

Mark (Liam Walker) initially seems like he is making the ultimate sacrifice for someone he loves but is it a convenient escape for his own drug dependent hopelessness and despair of a dark future.

While Betty (Arielle Cartwright) has a devastating illness, chooses hope and courage instead of submitting to Mark's escape.

The couple's relationship unravels because Betty decides she is not ready to let go, despite making a pact with Mark; however after exchanging wedding vows in a picturesque valley free from her impending pain and fatigue she has a change of heart.

As the mood darkens between the couple so to the heavily atmospheric scenery turns dark and oppressive. Will the relationship ever recover, who can say!

I like that the movie ends in a "grey" area where we are left to ponder the tragedy of fate!

A well made art house film that deserves more notice.

Here's a slow burn dramatic thriller that confuses more than it answers while presenting the story of a young couple trying to have their perfect last four days of their lives, enjoying nature and themselves far from any company. It'll be their last days living as they're committed to a suicide pact since the girl (Arielle Cartwright) is suffering from cancer and doesn't want to continue with a painful treatment that goes nowhere and also brings her boyfriend (Liam Walker) down and he doesn't want to be left behind after she's gone, so he's more than willing to join her. But as days move on, they both alternate states of happiness, care and loving moments with confusion, aggression, doubt, anger and fear, and if one of them changes their mind and the other don't, things could escalate to a nightmarish scenario.

"White Blood" succeeds well when it comes to showing the couple's routine and dynamics through good and bad moments, and how the ups and downs affects them in different ways. There's a lot of bickering but there's also many loving moments. The affected aspect of it all is when tension rises up either through nightmares, visions and then the real challenge comes along and it's a little confusing to get what's going on and why sometimes their conversations escalate in a dangerous manner. It almost reaches some horror film vibes. And I'm still trying to understand that ending. Plus, it's one of those films that spin around with things instead of being a little more direct. Viewers who don't read anything about it and just go watch it, we'll get a little frustrated in trying to understand exactly what those two are doing in the forest.

Like said before, the couple's routine and banter are pretty interesting to watch, and the more you discover things about their past or just enjoy their sense of humor, the better it gets. But on the other way it felt a little strange the way the woman reacts to some closeness from the man in a horrid manner.

There were times when it necessary for her to push him off when things were going erratic, but that very first moment during a brief discussion was overreacted.

And since she doesn't appear sick at all - it's almost like Ali MacGraw disease in "Love Story" - I wonder why this couple haven't had sex the whole time there.

The closest they ever got was in the improvised marriage.

On a deeper level one can have some thoughts about this scenario and how one would deal in reality with dramatic prospects of losing one's partner, if joining him/her or staying behind to deal with a restless pain. That topic was interesting enough for me, despite all the problems and mysteries presented.

It's not a painfully depressive experience as it sounds, the focus shifts more towards the rising tension of it all. 6/10.

120 minutes.... 115 minutes is character development... 5 minutes is the actual plot.

This is NOT a "thriller" in any sense of the word. If anything, it is perhaps a mystery because for most of the film a viewer has no clue what any actual plot may be.

The plot isn't actually made clear until 115 minutes into the film.

It is ENTIRELY character development until the final 5 minutes. Not good character development.. more "current personality" development. There's no history regarding the characters discussed whatsoever. It's merely a collection of overly repetitive scenes so the viewer can see the personalities, that's all.

The last 5 minutes is the actual plot. And that's how long it takes to tell the story - 5 minutes.. it could be written in roughly three, relatively short, sentences.

I found it generally morose. The consistent long note viola tones made for a depressing soundtrack while I had no clue what the point to ANYTHING was.

Complete artistic nonsense without consideration for any audience.

Acting was mediocre, not great. Thus making all the "personality" development somewhat haphazard. And quite honestly, even though the relationship is finally made clear.. it's NEVER clear based on the character actions... lines in the script OFTEN didn't fit the body language on screen. All throughout the initial 115 minutes I imagined this relationship to be every possible relationship a man and a woman could have - siblings, cousins, friends, spouses, lovers, coworkers... because most of the time any of these relationships would fit what's on screen. The actual relationship isn't clear until the final 5 minutes.

Pass on this.. there are MUCH better things to spend your time on.

A very beautiful slice of life film that doesn't really spoon feed you. I think it would frustrate a lot of people but if you invest in it I think the ending especially is quite profound. Certainly not the biggest budget film but it looks and sounds stunning at times. (at rare times not so much) More drama than thriller but there definitely is that element. It gets very dark and it certainly isn't for the faint of heart. It touches on some pretty tricky themes (suicide and DV) and I think for the most part does them justice. Both performances are engaging, especially from relatively fresh talent and especially considering the long takes and hefty dialogue.

Overall worth a watch if you're an arthouse fan!