An Exercise In Nonsense

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

This movie was something special for me, most of it because it's the last film for one of my all time favorite movie stars (River Phoenix). what made it more interested to me (and maybe to many river's fans) is that it was never completed due to his sudden death back to 1993. The story line or let say the idea of it is very slimier to the 1990 film (Misery) Starring both: Kathy Bates & James Caan, but unfortunately Dark Blood failed to reach half of Misery due to many reasons: First and the main reason was the movie was never completed because the scenes are just 80% of the film which destroyed a lot of aspects although the Director read some notes that weren't shot (in order to understand many things), but this was not enough. the second reason was there was no chemistry between Phoenix and Davis especially from Miss Davis side( not to mention that she doesn't have the qualities to attract a young man) in other words she was miscast for this role. As for both River Phoenix and Jonathan Pryce they really delivered one of there most powerful roles till date. MR. Phoenix gave us a brilliant performance as a villain. and he really developed himself very hard to present this part. he didn't care about his looks at all, he made himself really look like a half Indian half American and the death scene was very powerful i think if it was completed back then he arguably will be nominated at least to Golden Globe. At the end if you are one of River Phoenix Fans i highly recommend you to watch his last great performance, but don't expect to watch a great movie. it's a fine one with a very good performances.

Psychological thriller, art film and well acted with a strong American Indian theme, amid stunning cinematography (though obviously NOT the Arizona desert) - this flick is a rescued treasure and would be a gem in its own right, even had beloved River lived to complete the very few missing scenes. Dark Blood's message: 'Humanity is poisoning the earth and early colonizers were no worse than modern European Americans and other trespassers. Disrespectful to the land, as to its rightful stewards. You know nothing about this land and nothing about us. Just go. Could learning respect have been an option? Sure. Right up until the point where you killed EVERYTHING.' Wow. *and then the parallel stories with the nuclear fallout and real-life actions* This is a very strong message the writer and director are passing on, while educating us about Anasazi ruins and the struggle of a mixed blood off the reservation in a multitude of ways. Viewing the ruins first as tourists, Harry and Buffy read about the ancient peaceful people who use to live here. They return to the site later as refugees; at this point,Harry passes a sign that says WHITE MAN, THIS LAND IS POISONED BY YOU. CURSED BY US.Buffy passes a sign that says DEATH DO NOT ENTER HEREI loved the soundtrack, but it was a big miss to not include Robbie Robertson's "Ghost Dance" in it. A future edit should obviously include that song and Jonathan Pryce dubbing over George Suizer's narration, slightly edited, so the script of it sounds like one of the actors, merely adding in his own thoughts.Suizer and Jim Barton make a direct point to the audience (clearly one Phoenix approved). These writers probably knew something you don't: how many tribes exist in North America today? Don't know that? I recommend starting with The American Indians, by Edward H. Spicer. It is good to know about the past of the land we are living on, as well as the present. I am impressed with the current generation Germans wishing to understand and pay atonement for a genocide they personally had nothing to do with - makes me forgive them, as a Jew. I pray that, one day, my fellow Americans will be as humble, and learn more about American Indians, past and present.

This is the last film with River Phoenix. Meaning: as Phoenix died in 1993 and Dark Blood was only 80% shot, it took almost 19 years to get the material edited into the final cut. All scenes that haven't been shot are read as a voice-over by director George Sluizer over paused images. While that creates a distinct kind of movie experience, it doesn't seem to be something I'm very fond of. Of course, Dark Blood is a film that's all about Phoenix. Just like James Dean in 1955, Phoenix generated a cult following because of his untimely death. Mostly remembered for his roles in Stand by Me, Running on Empty, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and My Own Private Idaho, Phoenix never really had the chance to become the actor he could've been. That doesn't mean everything he did was pure genius though... In Dark Blood I'm just not feeling the Phoenix-vibe. Above all, it's quite a dull movie. Only recommended for those who want to see Phoenix shine one last time.

George Sluizer's Dark Blood is one of the many oddities in the film world. Shot about eighty percent of the way in 1993, but put in an abandonment because of the death of its lead actor River Phoenix at age twenty-three, Dark Blood managed to be edited, reworked, and released at several film festivals in 2012, marking an end in the saga to one of the curious wonders of cinema. In 1999, the film was almost burned by the insurance company, who was sick of storing it in a vault without a plan for years on end, and would've been gone for good had Sluizer not taken action and stolen the film back in a period of forty-eight hours.River Phoenix died as a result of mixed drugs entering his system at Johnny Depp's club The Viper Room in 1993, closing the book on a young, ambitious life so early and abruptly after doing a handful of acclaimed picture. Watching Dark Blood in 2014, when Phoenix has sadly escaped the minds of many, one could see that the talent he possessed and the emotions he managed to convey were natural and believable. It's too bad that even with Dark Blood managing to get some sort of release, it will still be desperately short of attracting an audience it deserves.The film focuses on an older couple named Harry (Jonathan Pryce) and Buffy (Judy Davis), who are traveling through the desert on a second honeymoon, hoping to pick up the pieces to their crumbling marriage. When their car breaks down in the middle of the desert, they meet a young widower who calls himself "Boy" (River Phoenix), who lives on his own, with his loyal mutt, following his wife's death from radiation. The radiation was caused by nuclear tests conducted close in proximity to Boy's ramshackle home in the middle of the desert. Now, the only thing he anticipates is the apocalypse (and the occasional passersby).Initially, Boy seems gentle and grateful for the company, but Harry discovers long before Buffy does that he wants some sort of a romantic relationship with his wife. Boy longs for female companionship due to the loneliness and isolation that exists in the desert, and throughout the film, we see Boy's anger and hostility escalate, which eventually leads to him kidnapping Harry and Buffy and keeping them in his confines.Being that only about four-fifths of the film is complete, director George Sluizer tacks on narration during the scenes that were never completed (some of which being very significant chunks of the film), describing the scene and reciting the dialog. Even before the film is a minute-long narration about how after Phoenix died, it left everyone shell-shocked to the point where no one really wanted to complete the film without his participation. Sluizer states that upon become very ill he wanted to edit and compile the clips of the film into something before it was too late.Being that Sluizer managed to complete a project that many felt would never see the light of day, and that he has done such a great job on many different aspects, it seems harsh to critique it any way. Saying the film is fragmentary, and sometimes a bit choppy, is a pretty demeaning and stupid point of criticism seeing there was little Sluizer could do to prevent that in post-production. Rather than nitpicking elements that probably unsatisfied Sluizer in addition, let's focus on what the film really excels at, which is giving its lead actor a sendoff and bearing some great scenes of tension and excitement.Consider the scene where Harry manages to momentarily break free from Boy's clutches, or when both head for the hills in their pickup truck. Scenes like this are given unexpected leverage thanks not only do the performances, but Sluizer's editing work, which still works to give old footage fresh vibes of suspense. Had Sluizer not taken the film seriously in terms of continuity and story, all seriousness and respect for the project would've dwindled to nothing, but thanks to the competent work orchestrated, Dark Blood manages to easily win more than just cinephiles over.Starring: River Phoenix, Jonathan Pryce, and Judy Davis. Directed by: George Sluizer.