Movie Review: Fake Blood
Director: Rob Grant
The Story: Rob Grant and Mike Kovac receive a disturbing fan video inspired by their previous horror movie Mon Ami, motivating them to investigate the responsibility of filmmakers in portraying violence in movies. In their pursuit of the truth they are unwittingly introduced to the real world of violent criminals and their victims.
The Review:
Horror movies are creepy, they are scary, and they are meant to show us things that are dangerous and sometimes very deadly without the threat of it being real life. This documentary shows what can happen when those made up stories spill over into reality in unexpected ways and it turns out to be even scarier than anything the film makers could have come up with on their own. The goal was originally to find out if film makers should hold some responsibility and have a level of accountability when it comes to the graphic content that finds its way n screen and, while that question is never really answered, we get to see just how dangerous playing in that world can be.
It's hard to go into detail on how the story unfolds without giving away stuff that could be considered spoilers so I'm not going to go too deep into it. That may seem odd since this is a documentary but one of the thing that makes it so effective is that you're never quite sure if what you are seeing is real if they are making the whole thing up. Basically, Rob Grant and Mike Kovac, film makers who had worked together on many projects since they were kids, start getting mixed up with people who come from the world of organized crime and they push a little too far with their research and questions. How do they go from horror movie ethics to mafia hit men? That's where the whole thing gets weird, compelling, and downright scary.
The Verdict:
Fake Blood is a documentary (or is it?) about the ethics of making horror films although what the film makers discover is much scarier than anything they ever put on film. The movie is very well put together and weaves in and out of actual footage and reenactments in a way that ramps up the tension and reminds you that, while they are ultimately working in a land of make believe, the danger can be very, very real.
Fake Blood is an official selection of the 2017 Portland Film Festival.
TwoOhSix.com coverage of the 2017 Portland Film Festival.
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