The Bloodhound (2020) Review

The Bloodhound (2020) Review

First-time feature director Patrick Picard brings a fresh take to one of the best-known stories from the master of mystery and the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe’s THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER, in his new slow-burner horror THE BLOODHOUND, a hauntingly atmospheric tale described by The Hollywood News as “an impressively stylish and intellectual debut”.

From Leal Naim and Thomas R. Burke, producers of THE ENDLESS and SYNCHRONIC, and featuring some remarkable performances from its trio of lead actors, THE BLOODHOUND leads you on a journey exploring themes that are as relevant to today as ever before, such as the yearning for emotional connection, the perils of social isolation and the fragility of mental health.

THE BLOODHOUND kicks off ominously as the camera tracks a faceless man who is seen emerging from a lake before crawling along the surrounding terrain and into the story’s main location before hiding within a wardrobe? This faceless character features in lead character’s Jean Paul’s (Joe Adler) nightmares. It makes for a very compelling visual image and it’s one that bodes well for the rest of the film if never really topped or built upon.

Creepy, compelling, frustrating and beguiling director Patrick Picard’s lose interpretation of the Edgar Allan Poe classic is effectively a two-hander and equally suited to being a small-scale theatre piece. It’s mood is both quiet and unsettling. After opening with such a strong scene the first-time feature director maintains an ominous vibe throughout the film’s short running time but the end result wasn’t for my tastes. Yes it’s well acted and well directed but still feels protracted even within its short time frame, however as an exercise in maintaining a claustrophobic mood vibe it delivers wholesale.

Arrow Video are set to release THE BLOODHOUND on Blu-ray in March and it’s available now via the Arrow Video Channel