Director:
Travis B. Miller
Studio/Production Company:
Mudd Miller Productions
Genre:
Horror
Sub-Genre:
Thriller
Length:
Feature
Website:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1339057/trailers
Score:
2.5/5
Despite a reported moratorium on picking up new indie horror films by many of the big distributors, the genre still seems to attract legions of eager beavers with a camera and buckets of fake blood. There is no shortage of low-budget friends and family “let’s put on a show” gore fests out there because the appeal of horror films is strong on both sides of the camera, with those who make them and audience who hungers for them. Unfortunately too many of these productions aim higher than the constraints of their budget or the limits of the filmmaker’s talent and fall short of their potential.
Such is the case with Travis B. Miller’s “Bloodstained Romance”, a genuinely creepy tale that does manage to get under the skin of the viewer but is ultimately sabotaged by its low-rent production values and generally bad acting.
The worst part about writing a negative review about this film is that, because it had so much potential, it is just that much more of a disappointment to imagine what could have been. The story, a descent into madness, obsession and violence, concerns a shy, lonely and, in the end, deeply troubled college student, Holden --- yes, just like the name of the main character in “The Catcher In The Rye” and about as heavy-handed and obvious a name choice for a protagonist in this type of film as possible. When Holden encounters a sexy student, Sadie, he is quickly attracted to her, infatuated and, before long, obsessed with her, stalking her. The emphasis on “quickly” is one of the places where this film went off track. Holden’s obsession with Sadie would have been much more effective if it had been given the time to develop a little more gradually. Holden’s transformation from shy and lonely to obsessive and crazed just seemed too abrupt. Actor Chris Burchette, however, does an admirable job in the role of Holden, effectively awkward when he initially attempts to talk with Sadie and chillingly detached as he sinks deeper and deeper into trouble.
Unfortunately, the rest of the acting is not as good and, more importantly, the production simply does not hold up, technically. In this day and age it is almost inexcusable to shoot on video and have that footage remain distinctly video-like visually –like soap opera for example, rather than employing a “film look” type of program to achieve a more cinematic, celluloid effect. Miller gets points for being able to create and sustain a consistently creepy mood and ominous tone despite the low-end video and cheesy special effects. No, this one is not even a diamond in the rough but there is enough here to suggest that Travis B. Miller might have a diamond up his sleeve.
Travis B. Miller
Studio/Production Company:
Mudd Miller Productions
Genre:
Horror
Sub-Genre:
Thriller
Length:
Feature
Website:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1339057/trailers
Score:
2.5/5
Despite a reported moratorium on picking up new indie horror films by many of the big distributors, the genre still seems to attract legions of eager beavers with a camera and buckets of fake blood. There is no shortage of low-budget friends and family “let’s put on a show” gore fests out there because the appeal of horror films is strong on both sides of the camera, with those who make them and audience who hungers for them. Unfortunately too many of these productions aim higher than the constraints of their budget or the limits of the filmmaker’s talent and fall short of their potential.
Such is the case with Travis B. Miller’s “Bloodstained Romance”, a genuinely creepy tale that does manage to get under the skin of the viewer but is ultimately sabotaged by its low-rent production values and generally bad acting.
The worst part about writing a negative review about this film is that, because it had so much potential, it is just that much more of a disappointment to imagine what could have been. The story, a descent into madness, obsession and violence, concerns a shy, lonely and, in the end, deeply troubled college student, Holden --- yes, just like the name of the main character in “The Catcher In The Rye” and about as heavy-handed and obvious a name choice for a protagonist in this type of film as possible. When Holden encounters a sexy student, Sadie, he is quickly attracted to her, infatuated and, before long, obsessed with her, stalking her. The emphasis on “quickly” is one of the places where this film went off track. Holden’s obsession with Sadie would have been much more effective if it had been given the time to develop a little more gradually. Holden’s transformation from shy and lonely to obsessive and crazed just seemed too abrupt. Actor Chris Burchette, however, does an admirable job in the role of Holden, effectively awkward when he initially attempts to talk with Sadie and chillingly detached as he sinks deeper and deeper into trouble.
Unfortunately, the rest of the acting is not as good and, more importantly, the production simply does not hold up, technically. In this day and age it is almost inexcusable to shoot on video and have that footage remain distinctly video-like visually –like soap opera for example, rather than employing a “film look” type of program to achieve a more cinematic, celluloid effect. Miller gets points for being able to create and sustain a consistently creepy mood and ominous tone despite the low-end video and cheesy special effects. No, this one is not even a diamond in the rough but there is enough here to suggest that Travis B. Miller might have a diamond up his sleeve.