Expected more

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

BAD BLOOD is about as dramatic a recreation as one could want, with tension aplenty. The first time I saw it, years ago, it had me on the edge of my seat; this time around, I found myself sympathizing with the central character, the much-put-upon Stan Graham. His plight- from the mysterious death of his cattle to the Government lackeys nipping at his heels- is one all too many farmers in THIS country can relate to; the confiscation of his rifle only added to the resentment(s). Low key but effective performances (especially by Carol Burns as his wife, Dorothy, who is at once quivering with fright and passion and paranoia) enhance a suspenseful and ultimately very sad tale of loss- loss of worldly possessions, loss of mental acuity and, ultimately, loss of Everything Worldly.

Carol burns is amazing. Have just finished watching this movie that was tucked away on a late night ABC TV slot, and it is a rare gem. Yes, it is relatively slow moving, but I found that just built the drama. It sucks you in because all the characters are so real. There are no heroes in this movie. There is also a sense of injustice at the end but to say anymore would be too big a spoiler. However, this injustice contributes to making this film feel so gritty and real. It just goes to show that with the right script, actors and location, a good director doesn't need a Hollywood style budget to craft a great movie. Bad Blood is almost a precursor to the even more gruesome and even more closer to the real events "Out of the blue", another N.Z. Film based on a more recent gunman gone mad.

Admittedly the title sounds like it's stolen from a lousy and cheesy 80's B-slasher movie, but "Bad Blood" is one of the most hauntingly dramatic depictions of a real-life human tragedy ever made. Set in New Zealand in 1938 and revolving on painful facts as they occurred there, "Bad Blood" tells the story of Stanley Graham and his wife Dorothy. They're outcasts in the small village community because of their rude and asocial behavior and the accumulation of financial problems slowly drives them to insanity. Stanley nearly has to go to prison for refusing to turn in his riffles and the woeful regards of the townsfolk become more and more hostile when the Grahams accuse them of poisoning their cattle. The script slowly and atmospherically builds up towards the inevitable tragedy of Stanley going irreversibly berserk and butchering seven people during a nightmarish rampage. This beautiful period piece, with marvelous costumes and set pieces, draws a mesmerizing portrait of human paranoia and despair. It also frighteningly illustrates how quickly a chain of little and seemingly insignificant events can escalate into a bloodbath, and that's truly disturbing to say the least. The sober music and gloomy photography epitomize the depressing tone of the film and Jack Thompson gives away one of the most perplexing performances I've ever seen. He should have received awards for his role, and the film in general as well for that matter. Carol Burns is equally amazing as his Dot, who may not have killed anyone but who's at least as dangerous as her husband, if not more. The climax sequences, revolving on the extended manhunt for Stanley after he fled into the open country, are also very gripping and effectively revealing the monstrous nature of people. Suddenly, the little town is overrun with people carrying riffles, most of them even unaware of the details of what happened exactly, simply to join the vigilante hunt for Stanley. No less than Mike Newell directed this sadly obscure little gem back in 1981. Nowadays he's an acclaimed director of slightly more light-headed films, like "Four Weddings and a Funeral", "Love in the Times of Cholera" and "Mona Lisa Smile". The fact that Newell was born and raised in England makes it even more admirable how he's capable of reflecting the typical New Zealand characters, culture and WWII background. I'm not aware of "Bad Blood" being available on DVD now, but the day it comes out make sure you grab a copy of this tense masterpiece. I certainly will.

Bad Blood is the true story of West Coast (New Zealand) Eric Stanley Graham who, during the 1940's shot dead several people in the small village of Kowhitirangi, and sparked NZ's biggest manhunt in history. The film is both atmospheric and disturbing, and is well focussed on Graham and his family, and their gradual alienation from the small community. The bush setting only amplifies this claustrophobia. Both well acted and scripted, Bad Blood is worth more than a look.