Blood Quantum Is A Gory Thrill-Ride While Staying Cognizant of its Heraldry

Zombie flicks. A genre steeped in such mundane predictability for nearly one hundred years in film, and yet, new and interesting ideas continue to be explored and presented - new and interesting tales and perspectives, and yes - new kill shots and visceral displays of effluvium and gore painting the walls and floor!

Enter Blood Quantum, RLJE's newest release coming September 1, 2020. Jeff Barnaby (Rhymes for Young Ghouls) writes and directs a competent and grounded commentary, connected by the sinews of competent pacing and grounded commentary. This particular zombie flick is one of the more unique perspectives in that it takes place in an indigenous people's reserve, Red Crow, and we witness the collapse of civilization through their perspective, as they witness the rapid degeneration of the "Townies" (the city across the bridge). As with most every other shambling tale, we are given some time to establish characters, but not without an initial glimpse that something is amiss; in this instance, the resurrection of gutted fish. 

Michael Greyeyes displays poise as the stalwart protagonist.

Traylor (Michael Greyeyes, "Fear the Walking Dead") is the sheriff of the reservation, and we are introduced to his family ties not in a hurried fashion, but in a quickly unfolding sequence of events that keeps the viewer engaged, and never bored.

While the predictable inevitability of the events of this film were not surprising, it is the characters and actions taken by them that propelled this film; displaying a gory good thrill-ride, while staying cognizant of its heraldry - as well as making it one of the most enjoyable films of the desiccated zombie genre in the past several years. Gore gags and killing blows are sprinkled throughout, even showing some unique kills  - yet another quality that Writer / Director Jeff Barnaby excelled in with this presentation. 

Gore galore for the zombie flick enthusiasts; you’ll find something sanguine to satisfy your inner gorehound

The story is ushered along with the help of an adept ensemble of actors and actresses: Elle-Maija Tailfeathers (The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open), Forrest Goodluck (The Revenant), Kiowa Gordon (Twilight franchise) and for we Forever Knight fans, it was great to see Gary Farmer (Forever Knight, The Score) rounding out the main cast, each of whom provided a moral fiber and perspective unique to each character's position, a feat not easy to express in the film's comfortable 98 minute runtime (thank you, by the way).

Bottom line: watch this film. Gory, poignant, competent and compelling; there is as much soul in this film as there is zombie action, and that, my friends, is delivered expertly!

Blood Quantum is available on VOD, Digital HD, DVD and Blu-Ray on September 1, 2020 from RLJE Films.

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