Junkie
Ellie (Gilchrist) wakes up in hospital after collapsing outside her house.
Only, she’s now nine months pregnant (she wasn’t before) and something very bad
seems to have happened inside the hospital. She finds Henry (Arthur), a man
chained to his bed in a quarantined section. They soon realise they’re not
alone as strange, pale creatures are lurking in the darkness, and they have a fondness
for blood…

Blood
Hunters is an imaginative movie, not merely about
monsters but exploring mortality, morality, the decisions we make, and just
what lurks on the ‘other side’. Classic techniques are used to good effect –
not revealing too much of the monsters, moments of dark humour for comic
relief, little clues as to what’s going on (you know when you see ‘cocoon phase’
on a medical record something’s not quite right). Other characters are gradually
introduced, including a hard-line priest (horror’s gentleman Julian Richings),
and there’s a strong focus on how they interact and why they make the decisions
that they do.

Unfortunately, the acting can be disjointed
at times, while the end is a bit prolonged, with themes of sacrifice and
redemption being overly drawn out. However, it has some classic moments – one
involving a spatula and another that’s reminiscent of Prometheus. The film might appeal to fans of Flatliners, Pandorum and Event
Horizon as a lower-budget, Canadian mix of all three.

It’s a solid feature – another example of
the strong creative work coming out of Toronto – and definitely worth a watch.

BLOOD HUNTERS / DIRECTOR: TRICIA LEE /
SCREENPLAY: COREY BROWN / STARRING: LARA GILCHRIST, BENJAMIN ARTHUR, TORRI
HIGGINSON, MARK TAYLOR, JULIAN RICHINGS