Rowan (Lee Marshall) accepts an invitation from her friend Emily (Lauren Beatty) to go to an isolated cabin during winter. Joining them is Emily’s boyfriend Brendon (Aris Tyros). Our three leads begin the film by driving up to the cabin, and Rowan has a nap in the back seat as she is feeling exhausted from the lengthy drive.
Upon arriving at the cabin, Rowan begins to feel unwell- perhaps car sick? Thanks to her friends, Rowan gets some rest and is even provided with some medicine found around the cabin. But while Rowan stays in the cabin with her two friends and attempts to get better, not only does she continue to feel unwell, but she also starts to see possible visions and has the most bizarre dream. At first, Rowan thinks very little of her visions and dreams until she wakes up one morning only to find little markings on her arm which look like they could be cuts. Rowan begins to suspect that perhaps her closest friend could be stealing her blood when she sleeps at night. She will begin to seek the truth, wondering if she is making it all up in her head.
To my surprise, the film consists of only three cast members. Actress Lauren Beatty, who plays Emily, delivers the best range out of the three. Dialogue at times can be clunky and cheesy as if this film was made like a teen horror movie.
Bleed With Me has a great concept and I truly enjoyed the mystery that is set up. For most of the first act, I was a little stumped about what was going on with Rowan and the cabin. But it’s not long until certain reveals are made. These reveals ultimately take away from any major revelations or surprises being saved for the third act. Ultimately, the twists become highly predictable, and the final moments are vague and unclear. The pacing is questionable, and thanks to the early reveals, the film ends up being a slow burn, honestly leaving me bored at times. The general look and feel of the cabin is pleasing though. The filming style is also great with nice dark visuals, setting up mysterious and uncomfortable moments.
Overall, those seeking a slow burn horror movie generally set in one location with a small cast will certainly gain joy from this horror tale. For the most part, performances are ok with actress Lauren Beatty being the standout of the three. The film sets up a promising first act, but it’s not long until it becomes highly predictable and the twists are obvious. I generally don’t mind anything that’s a slow burn, but I certainly felt the snail pace was a little challenging here. The finale holds no surprises but still manages to be vague in certain areas and details with its plot. Bleed With Me (2020) is Now Available on Shudder!
4.9/10
6th August 2021
Written by Peter Walkden
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