Blood Shine is one of those films that was immediately added to my watchlist when I heard about it. Not only is it folk horror (which I love), but it was produced by one of my favorite production companies, Paper Street Pictures. I was really disappointed that I was unable to see it during the Chattanooga Film Festival, as it only played in-person. However, I was finally able to see it, and I’m happy to say that the wait was worth it.
The official synopsis of the film is as follows: “Set in a desolate expanse of upstate New York, Blood Shine centers around Clara, a religious zealot who worships light in lonely, sacred rituals. When problematic horror director Brighton West travels upstate to finish the screenplay for his next film, a chance encounter with Clara leads him into a hallucinatory web of faith, flesh, and the sublime.”
Much like the film’s cold open, I feel I should start by talking about one of the best things going for Blood Shine: its visuals. Justin Brooks’ cinematography is truly remarkable. Especially when you consider that, as a cinematographer, his body of work consists of 2 films and 2 shorts. The level of quality here is on par with what you’d expect from an A24 or Neon film. The composition of each shot does an incredible job of conveying the vast loneliness depicted in a scene or an intense closeness. There is a point in the film where Clara (Emily Bennett) is dancing with a ribbon in the yard, and it’s cut together with scenes of her cutting Brighton. The juxtaposition of the two gave me chills. The film’s setting also lends itself to beautiful visuals. I also really dug the use of projections and how they lit the scenes.
All of the performances in Blood Shine were top-notch. Emily Bennett’s portrayal of Clara features an intensity not often seen in indie horror performances. The way she evolves from cold to more vulnerable as her relationship with Brighton develops is on par with Béatrice Dalle in Trouble Every Day. David Call’s take on Brighton is similarly well portrayed. He’s not at all likeable, but by the end, you’re invested in what’s happening to him. It’s also always a joy seeing Toby Poser and Larry Fessenden show up, especially in a folk horror film.
The use of food in this film is also worth noting. Folk horror seems to usually be good for food inclusion. In the case of Blood Shine, tea is used as a means to drug people (reminiscent of the beverage use in Midsommar). I’m a sucker for nice food imagery, and the close-up of the swirling tea was lovely. At the start of the 3rd act, there is a moment where Clara is feeding Brighton. The combination of how this scene was framed, shot, and acted is probably one of my favorite gastro-centric scenes in a folk horror film.
If I were to say anything negative about the film, it would be that it lingers on some scenes longer than necessary. I would have preferred a little bit more background on the cult and how Clara found them to some of the more aesthetic shots. It’s not a huge dealbreaker, but just my take. Mileage may vary on that point.