Director:
Alex Orr
Studio/Production Company:
Fake Wood Wallpaper
Genre:
Comedy
Length:
Feature
Awards Won:
Chicago Underground Film Fest: Jury Award
Cinequest San Jose Film Fest: Best Director
Philadelphia FirstGlance Fest: Best Narrative Feature
Toronto After Dark Fest: Best Indie Feature
Website:
http://www.bloodcar.com
Score:
4/5
From the very start, with a witty direct address to the camera, Alex Orr’s “Blood Car” announces that it is something different. An odd mix of black comic social/environmental commentary and an automotive twist on the vampire genre, “Blood Car” surprises, engages and amuses at every corner.
Mike Brune stars as mild-mannered teacher Archie Andrews, an earthy crunchy vegan environmentalist with a thing for wheatgrass but nearly blind to the affection of cute wheatgrass salesgirl Lorraine (Anna Chlumsky) who all but throws herself at him. Determined to develop an alternative energy source to power his car when gas hits $40.00 a gallon, Archie accidentally discovers the secret ingredient that will get his motor running: human blood. As his unexpected success emerges, so does his need for further experimental trials and, consequently, more blood, straining his non-violent humanitarian philosophy to the breaking point. Fueled by inspiration and driven by libido courtesy of increased attention from red meat salesgirl Denise (Katie Rowlett who steals the show as the acerbic, unapologetic vamp) Archie plunges further and further into obsession with his discovery.
While it definitely and defiantly pushes the boundaries of good taste, Orr and company have something to say and they say it in an intelligent, yet unmistakably subversive way, delivering a message, tickling the dark comedy muscles of the audience and winding up with something ultimately oddly reminiscent of “An Inconvenient Truth” just much, much darker and a lot funnier. Orr and co-writer Hugh Braselton concoct a rich, provocative premise but they have to wrap things up somehow and, in the end, wind up settling for a run of the mill denouement. But, just because the final destination is ever so ho-hum it does not mean that the whole trip was a waste of time.
Alex Orr
Studio/Production Company:
Fake Wood Wallpaper
Genre:
Comedy
Length:
Feature
Awards Won:
Chicago Underground Film Fest: Jury Award
Cinequest San Jose Film Fest: Best Director
Philadelphia FirstGlance Fest: Best Narrative Feature
Toronto After Dark Fest: Best Indie Feature
Website:
http://www.bloodcar.com
Score:
4/5
From the very start, with a witty direct address to the camera, Alex Orr’s “Blood Car” announces that it is something different. An odd mix of black comic social/environmental commentary and an automotive twist on the vampire genre, “Blood Car” surprises, engages and amuses at every corner.
Mike Brune stars as mild-mannered teacher Archie Andrews, an earthy crunchy vegan environmentalist with a thing for wheatgrass but nearly blind to the affection of cute wheatgrass salesgirl Lorraine (Anna Chlumsky) who all but throws herself at him. Determined to develop an alternative energy source to power his car when gas hits $40.00 a gallon, Archie accidentally discovers the secret ingredient that will get his motor running: human blood. As his unexpected success emerges, so does his need for further experimental trials and, consequently, more blood, straining his non-violent humanitarian philosophy to the breaking point. Fueled by inspiration and driven by libido courtesy of increased attention from red meat salesgirl Denise (Katie Rowlett who steals the show as the acerbic, unapologetic vamp) Archie plunges further and further into obsession with his discovery.
While it definitely and defiantly pushes the boundaries of good taste, Orr and company have something to say and they say it in an intelligent, yet unmistakably subversive way, delivering a message, tickling the dark comedy muscles of the audience and winding up with something ultimately oddly reminiscent of “An Inconvenient Truth” just much, much darker and a lot funnier. Orr and co-writer Hugh Braselton concoct a rich, provocative premise but they have to wrap things up somehow and, in the end, wind up settling for a run of the mill denouement. But, just because the final destination is ever so ho-hum it does not mean that the whole trip was a waste of time.
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