In Our Blood - FrightFest Glasgow European Premiere Review
Director: Pedro Kos
Starring: Britttany O'Grady, E.J. Bonilla, Alanna Ubach, Krisha Fairchild
Written by: Mallory Westfall
Produced by: Stuart Fennegan, Steven Klein, Aaron Kogan, Gary Lucchesi, Michael McKay
Cinematography by: E.J. Bonilla, Camilo Monslave
Original Score by: Gil Talmi
Synopsis:
When Emily's estranged Mother suddenly disappears while filming a documentary together, she and her cinematographer must team up to work their way through clues to find her before it's too late.
Thoughts:
When it comes to adopting a faux documentary approach to a "Found Footage" horror film, there is an opportunity to present something so authentic and tied to reality that it can be difficult to differentiate between what is real and what is not. The 'V/H/S' series has done this on multiple occasions with various segments but it is always handled in a very arch manner. On the flip side you can get something that treats its material very seriously, like 'Lake Mungo' that can leave you questioning what is real. 'In Our Blood' is in line with the latter.
The film follows a filmmaking duo, Danny (played by E. J. Bonilla) and Emily (played by Brittany O'Grady) who travel to Las Cruces, the city Emily grew up in to make a documentary which aims to reconnect her with her estranged mother Sam (played by Alanna Ubach). After their initial meeting, Sam goes missing. Emily fears the worst given Sam's history with substance abuse so together with Danny she goes on a journey to find her, but in doing so makes a horrifying discovery about her mother.
It is hard to write about 'In Our Blood' too much without spoiling it because so much of the film hinges on a major reveal in the final fifteen minutes. It is very much a film where the less you know before watching it, the more that you will get from it. The faux documentary approach is what keeps you locked in throughout and goes a long way in maintaining the suspense from the mystery throughout the film. The manner in which the camera is handled is the main reason why it feels real throughout. Usually these kinds of films are defined by their overuse of a shaky camera or snap zooms but here that is kept to a minimum as director Pedro Kos (making his narrative debut with this film) shows great restraint in allowing the story to speak for itself. Within this restraint Kos allows the camera to move and frame shots in a way that is disorientating within the confines of the narrative as it keeps the audience second guessing until the end without seeing the big picture.
Even within the confines of its subgenre it still feels cinematic. One such sequence that evokes this sentiment involves Emily going into a bar to try and find out more information about the whereabouts of her mother. She enters the bar but we don't see her, we only hear her through the mic she is wearing while Danny has the camera pointed at the bar with his reflection in the wing mirror. It is a piece of stylistic brilliance that not only tells you everything you need within the confines of the scene but carries a deeper meaning upon reflection.
It is also a film that is committed to authenticity. Throughout it there are references to human trafficking and addiction that keeps it steeped in reality and even some of the interviews (particularly those at the rehab center) feel very real. How these issues are tied into the background of the characters is also a testament to Mallory Westfall's script which not only crafts a great mystery but the potent manner in which it unravels the idea of the past dictating the present for every character. In taking this approach it gives the film a lot of emotional depth drawing so much empathy from the characters, which is usually lost a lot of the time when it comes to a "Found Footage" film.
As for the cast, Brittany O'Grady handles the weight and burden of Emily's homecoming well as the past has always echoed through her head and heart. It is a performance that is so strong that whenever the camera is no longer rolling you still feel the full set of complex emotions of her character. Usually with these kinds of films, E. J. Bonilla's character of Danny (who is helping Emily with her film project) is usually an irritating smart alec full of quips but not here. He has his own past and struggles which he rises above to become a better person and that shines through Bonilla's caring and affable approach to his performance. Credit must also be given to Alanna Ubach's performance as Emily's mother Sam who is trying to reconnect with her daughter in turning her life around. There is a scene early on when she is being interviewed for the first time and the manner in which she fidgets with an awkward and uncomfortable demeanor feels so raw and natural that you can't take your eyes off her.
By the time you get to the final moments of the film, it will act like such a shock to the system that you'll either go with it or reject it. I am so glad that I decided to go with it as 'In Our Blood' is very much a film that has so many clues to it that a repeated viewing would make it a more rewarding experience. One of the finest faux documentary films in years that has rich, relatable and believable characters in a world full of mystery where not everything is as it seems. You may kick yourself for not picking up on the obvious but it is a credit to Kos who does a terrific job of pulling the wool over your eyes.
Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Joseph McElroy
'In Our Blood' received its European Premiere at FrightFest Glasgow on March 7th
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