Blood Child is based on a true story and inspired by a Malay occult legend, it is the tale of Ashley (Alyx Melone) who suffers a miscarriage whilst abroad in Singapore. Months later, she is back stateside, where she is celebrating the imminent birth of a new child with her husband. However, before long, it is clear that the aftermath of her bad experiences in South-East Asia are impacting in bizarre and scary ways, with flashes of bad vision coupled with things going bump here and there….
The film holds the attention and whilst at times there might be one or two predictable moments, it knows exactly where its focus is going to be for the audience and participants. Classic past and present motifs are in abundance here and you won’t be disappointed if this is what you want from a horror offering.
Alyx Malone is excellent as the traumatised mother and wife and was honoured with the Rising Star Award at Toronto’s Blood in the Snow festival – a deserving accolade.
Although it is clearly going to be aimed at the digital and home viewing market via streaming and such-like, Blood Child will belong as much on the big screen, with sufficient atmosphere and chill to fulfil its mandate as one of the horror flicks of the year.
A gem of a genre piece.
BLOOD CHILD / CERT: TBC / DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: JENNIFER PHILLIPS / STARRING: ALYX MELONE, CYNTHIS LEE MACQUARRIE, BIDEN HALL / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW (US), TBC (UK)
