The Bloodhound

"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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.