Blood Quantum (2019)

Streaming Service: Shudder

Movie Name/Year: Blood Quantum (2019)

Genre: Horror

Length: 96 minutes

Rating: Unrated

Production/Distribution: Prospector Films, Elevation Pictures, Lumix Media, Shudder

Director: Jeff Barnaby

Writer: Jeff Barnaby

Actors: Michael Greyeyes, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Forrest Goodluck, Kiowa Gordon, Olivia Scriven, Stonehorse Lone Goeman, Brandon Oakes, William Belleau, Devery Jacobs, Gary Farmer, Felicia Shulman, Lake Delisle, Trevor Hayes, Marc Assiniwi, Natalie Liconti

Blurb from IMDb: The dead are coming back to life outside the isolated Mi'gMaq reserve of Red Crow, except for its Indigenous inhabitants who are strangely immune to the zombie plague.

Selina’s Point of View:

I love the idea of Blood Quantum. It’s got a typical zombie plot with a bit of a twist that makes it feel fresh. I absolutely believe that there’s more to explore here. In fact, I believe it so much that it’s given me some new ideas for my own work.

When you have an idea like this that’s a little different than what’s out there, close to reinventing the wheel, it’s hard to live up to it. In this case, I feel like the film manages.

The majority of the actors are very strong in their parts. I bought Michael Greyeyes (V-Wars, Home Before Dark, I Know This Much Is True) as the distant father/sheriff who cares about his people. Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (A Red Girl’s Reasoning, Love in Paradise, Bloodland) made an amazing supportive (and worried) mom, while Forrest Goodluck (The Revenant, Indian Horse, The Miseducation of Cameron Post) and Kiowa Gordon (Painted Woman, Calico Skies, Wind Walkers) made convincing brothers that have taken separate paths.

My favorite of them all, however, was Stonehorse Lone Goeman (Shipwrecked: La Belle the Ship That Changed History). As the wise grandfather, he really felt essential to the story. Without him, the entire thing would have felt different – even if the other characters were exactly the same. That’s a difficult thing for an actor to pull off.

There were a few parts in the film that I’m not sure how I feel about. A couple of times, there are comic book-like scene inserted between some of the live-action horror and I’m not sure that was necessary. I’d have rather seen the scene reenacted as live-action to match the rest of the movie. It would have taken a little extra time and work, but I feel like the people involved could have handled it.

There were also a few plot holes that still kind of bother me looking back at it, but it’s nothing that any other film wouldn’t have shrugged off exactly the same way.

In the end, it was a decent movie that I will likely watch again. Be warned, though, it’s more brutal than you might expect. Even for a zombie flick.

Cat’s Point of View:

It was a dark and stormy night. Seriously, the weather decided to give a crazy backdrop for watching Blood Quantum. Considering storms don’t just happen on command, however, the good news is that you don’t need that sort of ambient atmosphere to enjoy this movie.

I have to say, I went into this film expecting something entirely different. That’s not a bad thing, though. I was pleasantly surprised by what this movie turned out to actually be. Of course, for anyone that’s watched the trailer, you’d probably have a decent expectation of the film. I had just gone on blurb and recommendation alone. Flying by the seat of my pants is how I roll.

Blood Quantum is a solid offering to the zombie genre. It follows the general recipe for cannibal corpses, though there are a couple of tweaks to the way things play out that let this movie step out of the normal box.

I really enjoyed that the film focuses on the story from the native American perspective. There aren’t nearly enough productions along those lines in mainstream Hollywood. It was also gritty and yet still laced with touches of humor. The blood and gore factor was at a level that stopped just shy of over-the-top.

The cast did a fantastic job. I connected with the characters within a very short span of time. While some cast members looked vaguely familiar, I really only recognized Michael Greyeyes. I was invested in what was going on to the point that I didn’t spend much time at all trying to figure out where I’d seen the others before. I also really loved the occasional animated transitions. Mind you, these were more like serious anime than what you’d call a ‘cartoon.’

It was a little surreal, though, to be watching a movie about an outbreak during an actual pandemic. That just doesn’t stop feeling weird. Thankfully the whole zombie factor helped keep it from feeling ‘too real’ like other branches of the viral horror sub-genre tend to.

If I had to find something to fault, there were just a few things involving a particular character and their friends that felt a little disjointed. Unfortunately, spoilers prevent me from elaborating further as to why.

All told Blood Quantum is certainly worth the watch, and I’d recommend it in a heartbeat.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 91%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 58%

Metascore – 63/100

Metacritic User Score – 3.0/10

IMDB Score – 5.6/10

CinemaScore – None

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 3.5/5

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5

Trust the Dice Parental Advisory Rating: R

Movie Trailer: