As a seasoned movie critic with over three decades of experience, I’ve seen my fair share of found-footage horror movies that have left me yearning for more chills and thrills. Unfortunately, “In Our Blood” falls short of being a standout in this genre. Despite its polished production and competent acting, the film feels like an extended prologue to a series that may not even get off the ground.
Approximately every one or two years, a movie emerges that revitalizes the found-footage horror genre, a category that has been excessively and consistently explored since “The Blair Witch Project” became popular 25 years ago. Regrettably, “In Our Blood” does not win this distinction in 2024. Despite being slightly above average for the subgenre in terms of acting and production quality, director Pedro Kos’ first narrative film — which follows two filmmakers investigating strange disappearances around Las Cruces, New Mexico — ultimately fails to meet the anticipation built up over a prolonged period, leading to an anticlimactic conclusion.
The film initially seems like an introductory setup for a series similar to “Blade” or “Underworld,” with its intense horror elements saved until nearly the end. However, it remains uncertain whether this premiere at Fantasia will generate enough excitement to warrant even one sequel, let alone multiple ones.
Emily (Brittany O’Grady) is traveling southwestwards from Los Angeles with talkative cameraman Danny (E.J. Bonilla), whom she’s hired to document the journey for personal significance and dramatic possibilities. They are heading towards the mother Emily was separated from at age 13, a woman she hasn’t seen in ten years. Emily describes Samantha (Alanna Ubach) as someone who isn’t inherently evil but has made poor decisions and caused harm to many people. It’s worth noting that Danny also carries emotional scars from his own maternal relationship, as his mother was deported when he was young. This encounter is tense, with Sam attempting to make amends with Emily, who remains doubtful, demonstrating that she’s now sober and gainfully employed.
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As the newcomers’ initial unease intensifies, it quickly transforms into fear when Sam vanishes, with other disquieting occurrences ensuing – events that frequently involve discarded pig heads and tainted rats, left conspicuously at places where our main characters had interacted with the locals before. It’s evident that someone aims to frighten them away from exposing the ominous secret that governs a significant part of life (and death) in this region.
There’s always an intriguing pull to narratives involving a cult, which is what we soon fear Hooper Center really is beneath its surface altruism. Our heroes are engaging enough, with a sometimes-testy dynamic that Mallory Westfall’s screenplay keeps professional, with no hint of potential romance included or needed. Supporting figures (also including Bianca Comparato and Steven Klein as an area couple, plus Leo Marks as an unstable Center case) make promising first impressions they’re seldom allowed to build on. Their number encompass actual residents of Camp Hope, a self-governing “transitional community” for indigents in Las Cruces that gets thanked in the final credits.
However, it’s worth noting that this imaginary mystery doesn’t offer significant insights into homelessness or any other subject matter. Instead, its unique atmosphere is utilized for a supernatural conclusion featuring two surprising twists. Unfortunately, one of these twists feels rather predictable within the genre. The second twist introduces an element reminiscent of “The Matrix” with a larger conspiracy, but it arrives late and in a film that lacks sufficient scale to deliver the shocking impact intended.
The movie, titled “In Our Blood,” is bloody at times, particularly due to the decapitated hogs, and maintains a reasonable pace. However, Kos seems to lack the ability to create an eerie ambiance or deliver truly frightening moments. Most of the filming was done during sunny southwestern afternoons, keeping viewers engaged but not building much suspense. It appears that the filmmakers might have preferred making a documentary about the tent city they utilized, as the horror story set in this location feels more like a commercial obligation than a genuine creative endeavor.
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2024-08-01 03:46