BLOOD QUANTUM Review – A Rebellious Take on the Zombie Subgenre
Jerry Smith
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Starring Michael Greyeyes, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, and Forrest Goodluck
Written by Jeff Barnaby
Directed by Jeff Barnaby
Shudder’s surprise midnight release of Blood Quantum was quite the unexpected one and when it comes to the zombie flick helmed by Jeff Barnaby, surprises seem to be the modus operandi at hand. In times like these, we need distractions from the craziness going around, and with its fresh take on the zombie subgenre and weighty themes and ideas, Blood Quantum just might be the best undead distraction we’ve had in quite some time.
The zombie subgenre can feel pretty stagnant at times and though The Walking Dead is still going strong on television, we’re just not seeing very many takes on the material that seem to stand out from every other film of its kind. With Blood Quantum, as a viewer, you know that you’re experiencing something very unique and original, right from the very beginning, following a group of fish, flopping about, after being gutted by a fisherman. The film does an excellent job of building a mythology and foundation for a good half hour, introducing its viewers to the people of Red Crow, a First Nations reserve community. The Indigenous community is a tight one and one with its share of personal issues even before a single zombie appears. Traylor (an excellent Michael Greyeyes), a law enforcement officer trying to keep his community together, is not only dealing with a somewhat estranged relationship, but also has to lead the people of Red Crow into safety, has a lot on his plate from the first time we see him. Joseph (Forrest Goodluck) is a troubled young man, facing a fork in the road of life, knowing he needs to mature and be there for his pregnant girlfriend, but also feels the need to put himself on the line for his troubled brother, Lysol. Lysol is an angry, bitter and vengeful man, one that leaves a trail of chaos behind him and it’s not that he doesn’t realize what he’s doing, he just doesn’t care. Joss (Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers) is the glue that holds them all together and when the sudden rise of undead begins to affect Red Crow, our characters are forced to deal with their own personal issues, while doing their best not to combust under the pressure of their fractured relationships, all while trying to survive.
We’re given so much to latch onto for the first quarter of the film, when it comes to character development, that when each death in the film does arrive, it’s nothing short of a brutal gut punch. That’s one of the many impressive elements of Blood Quantum, the ability to pull you into an emotional place and then pummel you with horror that feels personal and real, which is a difficult task when it comes to zombie films. Each character feels like a real, fleshed-out person, as opposed to the caricatures we often see in films within the subgenre, and that adds to the effect the film is able to have.
The setup is great, but where Blood Quantum truly succeeds is in its siege-like approach to tackling the subject of colonialism and racism. Early in the film, we find out that the people of Red Crow are immune to the zombies, while the outside world seems to be affected in great numbers. Turning their entire community into a heavily guarded and confined area, Joseph and his pregnant girlfriend do their best to help individuals seeking refuge escape the potential danger of the flesh-eating undead around them, but Lysol has such an anger and hatred for those who are not part of the reserve and holds animosity towards Charlie (Olivia Scriven), Joseph’s pregnant, Caucasian girlfriend. There’s a truly kind heart to Joseph and Charlie, doing their best to try to save people without regards to who they are, background wise, but Lysol blames the outbreak on those different than him and that hatred and anger defines his character well, leading to the film’s greatest villain being human, as opposed to the horde of zombies.
What Barnaby crafted with Blood Quantum, is a film that has great ideas and messages, without even feeling like they’re being forced down your throat. It’s not an agenda film, but its themes are important ones and the film allows its viewers to address these topics that are still alive and well in our current world, while being entertained at the same time. It’s a wild ride, a gory and absolutely shocking one, so as a horror fan, it’s incredibly fulfilling to see a film that not only doesn’t play by the rules, but takes the rules and absolutely destroys them, all while shining a light at accepting others and not allowing hatred to become your driving force in life. Nobody is safe in Blood Quantum and that rebellious take on the zombie subgenre is a fresh one, it’s rare to see a film where you honestly do not know if your favorite characters will end up being food for the undead, that all bets off approach makes the film exciting and new and Dread fans, I am there for it.
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BLOOD QUANTUM
Summary
What Barnaby crafted with Blood Quantum, is a film that has great ideas and messages, without even feeling like they’re being forced down your throat. It’s not an agenda film, but its themes are important ones and the film allows its viewers to address these topics that are still alive and well in our current world, while being entertained at the same time.
