The Bloodhound (2020) User Reviews

Slow and strange

[BandSAboutMovies · 6/10 · 20 February 2021]

Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher has been filmed several times, most famously in 1960 by Roger Corman and 2002 by Ken Russell. Curtis Harrington was a huge fan of the story, shooting a ten minute version in 1942 and a 36 minute take in 2002 with both starring himself as Roderick and Madeline Usher. There's even been a TV movie that had Martin Landau, Robert Hays and Charlene Tilton

Now, first-time feature director Patrick Picard has brought a fresh take to the story with The Bloodhound.

This movie is a tight 72 minutes, which is really the perfect length for a movie, and tells the story of Francis (Liam Aiken, A Series of Unfortunate Events), who comes to the home of his wealthy childhood friend JP Luret (Joe Adler, who was in the 2019 Twin Peaks).

JP claims that he is dying, another potential victim of the Luret family's legacy of self-destruction and depression. The only other occupant in his home is his twin Vivian (Annalise Basso, Ladyworld), who may be just as damaged as her brother.

While violent and argumentative, JP wishes to connect with his friend and feel something, but it seems as if it's impossible for the Lurets to ever survive.

This is a movie that mostly has two men sitting in a house and everything is uncomfortable between them. Somehow, it is not boring and instead fascinating. A big reason could be that the setting is incredible. And man, this movie did nothing to make me dislike rich people any less, because I really think that this story is much closer to truth than fiction. I can't wait to see what Picard makes next.

What? Who did they make this for? I'd rather just have the Pizza Money Please.

[midnitepantera · 2/10 · 26 December 2020]

Weird, super slow, boring movie. None of it made sense, and I had no idea if stuff was suppose to be real or a dream. Who is sewer dude? Just confusing, even the very end still made no sense. I was lured in by the trailer saying it was from producers of The Endless, which is a fabulously strange low budget thriller, but this just is a waste of film. Save yourself and go watch The Endless instead please. :o

Theatah!

[ansirahka · 2/10 · 29 December 2020]

It's beautifully shot, and the boys are cute, everything else is just plain-ass weird, even worse, 'theater' weird.

Slow and boring

[gxtzxq · 1/10 · 29 December 2020]

I was hooked in the beginning and thinking it'd get even better but it never took off. I don't see how this is even under the horror section. It's so long and boring.

Ignore the poor ratings. If you like weird, this is your movie.

[vegicat · 7/10 · 3 January 2021]

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.

How is this Movie Horror?

[deadgirlrising · 1/10 · 16 March 2021]

This is NOT a horror movie. It is a drama. No mystery, no horror, just drama. Not very good drama, at that.

A Masterclass in Tension.

[rolex922 · 7/10 · 8 April 2021]

If you've been exposed to the original Gothic text by Poe, then this film will make more sense than if you haven't. And while this isn't exactly 'The Fall of the House of Usher', it is mimetic in tone and spirit. The film has all the Gothic elements which give it a sense of the uncanny.

The actors are good at maintaining a sense of uneasiness, the script is sparse and the direction is very good-the director obviously understands the source material. Notably, the house itself is an Uber-stylish panopticon which compliments the atmosphere perfectly. One niggle, here, though, is that the house isn't quite as strong a character as perhaps it could have been. But, saying that, this was probably a deliberate directorial decision-given that the director is well versed with the source material. However, it is the music and sound design that keeps the tension high throughout. Both have the effect of being unsettling without being over the top.

If you like Poe, or you love the Gothic-style, then this is a good film-and it certainly doesn't outstay its welcome at under 2 hours.

Another worst horror film! Full of boring conversation, and annoying overuse scene! Avoid at all cost!

[kwenchow · 1/10 · 20 March 2021]

This film start with an unknown people coming out from the lake, and crawling into a closet scene! As turnout, this film is about Francis need to possess the house haunted by the so called "The Bloodhound", after the death of his friend "Jean Paul" and his twin sister "Vivian"! Entire film full of boring conversation, and annoying overuse scene! Such as, overuse of the crawling scene, overuse of the calling names scene, overuse of the staring scene, overuse of the eating scene, overuse of the drinking scene, overuse of the long angle background scene, and overuse of the closet shaking scene! Make the film unwatchable! At the end, Francis inherited Jean Paul's house! That's it! Wasting time to watch!

Short and sweet, but a slow burn that isn't for everyone.

[TheFilmGuy1 · 8/10 · 5 February 2021]

Super reminiscent of Yorgos Lanthimos films, specifically Dogtooth. That stilted, other worldly, dialogue with a tone that bounces between absurd hilarity and mysterious horror. This is all emphasized by the fantastic performances and dynamic between Liam Aiken and Joe Adler. They really do a great job at portraying that intimate yet slightly awkward relationship between two friends who once we're very close but haven't been in contact for a while. The increasingly unusual goings on during their time together really do keep you wondering where things will end up.

Major props to the production design on this one. There's some really great costume choices and a really great filming location, that being this 60's or 70's era home that looks like it was a passion project by an architect.

It's short (1 hour and 12 minutes) and sweet. If you don't mind some purposeful slowness, this film deserves a watch, especially considering that I haven't heard anybody talking about this.

All enigma

[kayhansen1 · 7/10 · 23 November 2021]

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.

Only the unborn

[begob · 7/10 · 3 September 2021]

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.

Pretty Good

[the_nephilim71 · 8/10 · 6 January 2021]

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.

Kinda brilliant

[kevinthruxton · 10/10 · 14 March 2021]

Almost every shot is static, claustrophobic, and scratchy with a pained dryness of repression and old fears and boredom. The dialogue mostly poses more questions than it answers, and it's the visuals that moves much of the 'story' along. A few of the scenes are laugh out loud hilarious. Definitely not for everyone but I was captivated. Well okay a couple scenes run a bit long but not enough to spoil the atmosphere.

I was reminded of both Ex Machina and The Lobster.

Interesting version of Poe tale

[writer-62400 · 8/10 · 23 September 2021]

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.

The Bloodhound

[turtleloverules · 9/10 · 29 November 2021]

Joe Adler shined in this philosophical thriller. I didn't know what exactly to expect when I started the flick, but within 5 minutes, I was enmeshed in the atmosphere and world of J. P. . Enjoy.

A wonderfully strange film

[mhiggott · 8/10 · 11 November 2021]

Beautifully shot, very well cast and acted. It's a strange film that won't be for everyone (e.g. Those who need everything to be explained to them and to make sense), but I loved it.

a very effective Kubrick legacy treatment ....

[thedarkagedesign · 9/10 · 23 June 2021]

"The Bloodhound" (2020) ... another excellent post-horror. Very surreal and dream-like. Contains in its execution elements of Kubrick in its use of rooms, doors, spaces etc. Once this movie gets you within its sweaty grasp, it will not let go.

Baffled by the low rating

[SamueljjLawrence · 10/10 · 15 March 2021]

This was a really interesting movie, it's a slow burn and has quite a few creepy moments. It is well shot, has a understated yet effective score, and the two main leads give great performances. It's under 90 mins so if you're interested in seeing a brisk and intriguing film, I'd highly recommend it.

artsy but i liked

[mateotorres-36528 · 8/10 · 26 April 2022]

Make sure to watch the end this is a good story even thou its kinds of arty. More a spooky haunted house kinda story but really different. Psycho stuff dealing with family drama but all messed up.

Very different and very good

[donald-thomas · 8/10 · 31 October 2022]

"The Bloodhound" is quite different from standard, uninventive movies. Some reviewers will say "this doesn't make any sense" or "this is never explained" but I don't think it matters. It's not about a plot, it's about characters and their relationship, and it's about atmosphere. It is essentially a film about two characters, well three if you count the elusive sister. Francis visits his friend, the reclusive JP (and his twin sister Vivian). That is the plot. The rest is more dialogues, and about the characters. Are they good people? Are they bad people? What are they expecting from one another? What are they up to?

The film has a "dreamlike" quality. You know, how dreams don't always make sense but you go along? The actors are wonderful, very believable. The house (because everything takes place in this house) looks great. The set decoration is excellent. And Patrick Picard's work as a director and screenwriter is fascinating.

So don't expect this film to fit regular patterns. You never know what to expect because it is a world in itself, unlike anything you have seen before. Well unlike anything I have seen before anyway. But isn't "not knowing what to expect" the best feeling ever when watching a film? Go along for the ride, don't question anything, and enjoy!