PopHorror Let's Get Scared
With so many virtual festivals going on, I’m still playing catch up and making sure I give credit and appreciation to each film I watched. Another phenomenal film I watched was the psychological thriller, Bleed with Me for Nightstream Film Festival.
This film was directed and written by Amelia Mose with a cast starring Lee Marshall (The Detectives), Lauren Beatty (Bloodthirsty), and Aris Tyros (Little Death).
Synopsis for Bleed with Me
During a winter getaway at an isolated cabin, a self-destructive young woman becomes convinced that her best friend is stealing her blood.
Bleed with Me is very much a slow burn that takes time building its suspense and mystery. There’s a looming sense of dread throughout its runtime, making it an unsettling experience. Between this film and Bloodthirsty, Amelia Mose has proven to be a phenomenal director and storyteller that knows to capture the attention of the audience and leave them aching for more.
This film has a small cast, but each actor played their part perfectly delivering an uncomfortably intimate setting that most of us would typically try to avoid. Lee Marshall delivered a killer performance as Rowan, an awkward yet sweet woman who envies everything that Emily (Lauren Beatty) has. Emily appeared to have it all: she’s beautiful, a man who loves and adores her, and has her life together… or so she thinks. It always sucks being the third wheel, but this story highlights it in a way that most of us ignore; the cringy, up-close details of it all. Lauren plays her part perfectly, delivering a devilish performance as a woman who is used to manipulating everyone around her. Along with this, there seems to be an underlying relationship between Rowan and Emily. You can feel the sexual tension, jealousy, and angst between the two, especially in the beginning. Aris Tyros’ character Brendan is a good man who just happens to be in the middle of this weird bizarre “love” triangle with no way out.
Some people are calling this film a “vampire story” but I don’t want to be so bold and go that route. It could be. Bleed with Me has many underlying metaphors and whether Emily was an actual vampire who is feeding off Rowan’s blood or an emotional vampire who is draining the life out of her. Rowan is someone who is easily vulnerable. A friend who is already broken and lost with nothing of importance in her life. Either way, it’s a beautiful story about pain, friendship, and how cruel others can be.
Final Thoughts
Bleed with Me is currently making its way through the festival circuit and I highly recommend checking it out when you can. A beautiful, psychological thriller packed full of mystery and suspense.
