The Bleeding House

Horror movie about a family that is heavily dysfunctional. Something happened with them that makes all the townspeople shun them and the father is unable to get a job. They have one son (Quentin) and a shy, quiet daughter (Gloria). One night a mysterious stranger (Nick) shows up at their door. He says his car has broken down up the road and he needs to call for help. They reluctantly let him in...and things take an evil turn.

The plot becomes fairly predictable from here on. It is well-acted (especially by Alexandra Chando as Gloria), has some gory killings and moves fairly quick...but there's no buildup in suspense. It just sort of lays there. Also I was expecting some sort of twist at the end...but there wasn't one. I also saw the ending coming from a mile away. This is not a terrible film just not a very good one. If you're a horror fan you might like it. All other stay away.

This film would actually make a very good film school project. It is by no means a professional production. The story though is good, solid, and climaxes great. It is written much better than the big budget Hollywood productions we see nowadays. The actors are above decent, the dialogues and plot are well written, and the characters are strong (except for the brother and girlfriend). Of course due to the amateurish feel of the film, when it comes to music, camera and lights, we go way below average. Special effects are not even worth mentioning as they are nonexistent. In general, this is not a film that I think will ever be on the big screen, but it is fine to watch on the TV if there is nothing better on. The unfair thing is that if the serial killer was played by a big shot actor and there were actually some money to be spent for music, photography and special effect, this would actually be a blockbuster !!! Unfortunate indeed.

In THE BLEEDING HOUSE, the Smith family is visited by a mysterious stranger named Nick (Patrick Breen). As the story unfolds, we realize that there's far more going on than a mere overnight stay. The man the Smiths have allowed into their home has a bizarre, ultimately lethal agenda.

Rather than the typical Good vs. Eeevil battle, this film opts for an Eeevil vs. Even More Eeevil confrontation. The dialogue is well above the average horror movie, especially Nick's odd, somehow convincing rants. There's also an overarching atmosphere of approaching doom.

Alexandra Chando is refreshingly enigmatic as Gloria Smith, the daughter who has a few dark secrets of her own. She is the only one in her family who seems to have a functioning brain, as twisted as it may be...

A family harbouring a dark secret invite a stranded traveller, genial southern gent Nick (Patrick Breen), into their home only to discover that their loquacious guest, an ex-surgeon, is now a self-proclaimed 'bearer of secret punishments'. Equipped with a variety of surgical instruments, Nick proceeds to teach his hosts the error of their ways, but meets his match in Gloria (Alexandra Chando), the very disturbed daughter of the household.

Like the drip, drip, drip of blood from a tube into a bottle, The Bleeding House builds slowly and inexorably, the facts gradually accumulating to reveal a delightfully twisted tale of death and deception. Even as the film enters darker territory, with nasty Nick attempting to recruit Gloria as his disciple, writer/director Philip Gelatt steadfastly refuses to reveal all of his cards at once or placate the viewer with cheap thrills (there is some gore, but it is used sparingly). While this measured approach may prove frustrating for some, the film should prove thoroughly absorbing for those viewers able to appreciate atmospheric, thoughtful slow-burn horror with a dash of mystery.

Reading some of these reviews I expected it to be a complete flop. Well, though some may agree that it is, I think it deserves a little credit since it was somewhat entertaining. Yes the special effects were cheesy and unrealistic, but the storyline was decent and had potential. I think the worst scene in the movie was when the cops showed up. They could have depicted that a bit differently to make it more believable. I honestly think if a larger movie company would have picked it up, they could have made it 10x's better. Though I was entertained, I definitely would have been disappointed if I had to actually pay to see this movie so I am glad I caught it on Netflix. Not bad option to pass the time though.