The Bloodhound

The original story came out in 1839. In this version the house itself is mid-century modern, the characters are 21st century, and the mood is strictly fin de siecle decadence, wavering between ennui and angst.

It's a little self-indulgent, but overall a pretty nifty little film.

And, a strange movie it is. But, really well done. If you liked Eraserhead you will like this movie. The plot is fairly simple -- "Old friend" wasn't really that much of a friend. No, this movie is all about the mood. The melancholy. I would watch it again in a minute just to see the absolutely perfect Mid-Century Modern house and furnishings. Whoever did the set totally nailed it. Top-to-bottom, accurate Mid-Century Modern.

Is it slow? Yes. Does everything make sense? No. But I don't think that was the point of this movie. If you need a tight little average story with an A-Z typical plot, this is not the film for you. If you like a film that conveys ambiance and disturbing, vague suggestions of a back-story, then you'll probably like it.

Is it a psychological thriller? Is it a monster movie? Is it a haunted house movie?

The Bloodhound is just weird enough to be compelling ... but too weird to make any sense.

Possibly, that's the point

It's one of those movies that you keep checking the time stamp to see how much time is left to answer a few questions. When you realize there's only five minutes left for the movie to explain itself, you get that sinking feeling ... it's gonna end the way it began. Weird.

I didn't hate watching it. Kind of a sensory experience. But, ultimately unsatisfying. Too many unanswered and unanswerable questions.

At the invitation of a wealthy childhood friend to come stay at his remote home, a poor photographer arrives to find some unexpected residents.

A study in the generational decay of a family, and so peculiar that it seems integrated purely through mood and location. The two friends are mutually genial at first, but a crack opens up, to the point of rupture. A twin sister appears to the guest in dreams, her only remains apparent in her dressing-table items and a bedside bowl of vomit. And lurking in a closet is a hooded man, originating from a creek-bed, who scrabbles across the floor during the night.

The location is a brown, straight-angled house, with steel-barred staircases that slash across the cinematographer's frames. Below is a sepulchral vault, which comes in to play as the lighting of the house glows red with the approaching climax. The score uses tinkling piano, wind-chimes and clicky-sticks.

The dynamic between the friends is of the host staging a betrayal by the guest, as if to confirm his hypothesis of the loneliness of existence; that between the twins, of doomed dependency. The role of the hooded man is creepy and plain mysterious. In the end, there's a sense of a curse being handed down. The performances are excellent.

It's an engaging watch, but no matter what angle I took, it didn't intrigue me because I couldn't get beneath the mood of solemn resignation. It seems to be an adaptation of the famous Poe story, but even that knowledge didn't free up any insight.

Overall: Awaiting instruction.

The story is a bit slow but it works in the long run. The acting is excellent and the weird house creates a very spooky atmosphere. Did I understand all of it? No, but I still enjoyed it.