Bloodshot Heart is not the type of film I was expecting when I sat down to watch this 70 ‘s-inspired Giallo horror and thriller movie. Certainly not the typical Australian fare with its twisty and illusion-filled hue-drenched imagery.
Hans is 44 and still lives with his mother Catherine. He moves a young and pretty tenant into the home he shares. Hans instantly becomes infatuated. Matilda is half his age, but in a vain quest to reimagine his past life, he plots an intricate plan to win her over. Hans is emotionally unstable. He’s also triggered by numerous things like colors or events that feel similar to experiences he has had in his life.
Sometimes his allusions aren’t even derived from his own experiences. Instead, that is, they are remnants of his desires. Simply things he wished he’d done. We are constantly flung back into a dream-like state like being tumbled in the surf. The audience is treated to many scenes that swap people, names, or places. They replace faces with the features of animals so you are never quite sure who is who. What is certain though, is that as the film progresses, Hans loses his grip on reality.
Australian Giallo Horror Movies
Mother of Movies was a little lost in the narrative concepts of Bloodshot Heart. But even amidst the cinematic tonal changes that bump up against one another in an overt attempt to confuse and regale one’s senses, it’s easy to appreciate just how beautiful everything looked. Bloodshot Heart includes various Australian wildlife alongside specific landmarks (like Leichhardt and Sydney’s Nothern Beaches.) What’s more, there is the multicultural aesthetic of American and Italian cinematic qualities, which many will be familiar with.
By the same token, Bloodshot Heart is filled with erotic hypersexual scenes and, quiet subdued conversations. This is coupled with extreme violence in the finale. Definitely, a film to look out for if you enjoy a story where madness is the key to understanding the overall sentiment of its characters.
I give Bloodshot Heart
3 It’s safer to not be in color around Hans out of 5
Bloodshot Heart 2020
Bloodshot Heart enjoyed a well-received run at 2021’s Fantaspoa Fantastic Film Festival. The title also enjoyed a private screening in Australia before it hit the film festival circuit. Screenhub had this to say about Bloodshot Heart 2020.
“Susan Lumsdon’s superb cinematography, Matt Perrott’s sound design, and Ola Turkiewicz’s evocative score and the creepy mother-and-son dynamic.”
Quote fromo Sceenhub.com about the Aussie Goallo film
- This film is part of Fantaspoa 2021. The film festival runs for free on the streaming platform Darkflix, from April 9th through the 18th. All film screenings are geo-blocked to Brazil. In addition, details are available at www.fantaspoa.com.
- Bloodshot Heart was acquired as a screener for review purposes.
- Written and directed by Parish Malfitano,
- Photography by Ian Provest,
- Produced by Bloodshot Heart Films,
- Starring: Richard James Allen, Emily David, and, Peter-William Jamieson.
What should I watch next?
For another Italian horror movie, watch The Room or The Goldsmith next.
