MovieChat Forums > Bleeders (1997) Discussion > BLEEDERS an underrated gothic horror mov...

BLEEDERS an underrated gothic horror movie

posted 15 years ago by jeffyoung1
2 replies | jump to latest

I disagree with the naysayer critics on this webpage.
BLEEDERS (aka HEMOGLOBIN) is actually a good horror movie with strong elements of gothic atmosphere. Bleeders reminds me of the good-quality, low-budget made-for-television horror films of the early 1970s. There's a dark, hidden storyline based on historical secrets. The main actors, Rutger Hauer, Kristin Lehman, and Roy Dupois all put in credible performances. Rutger Hauer, the replicant superstud from 1982's classic sci-fi, BLADE RUNNER, was a Hollywood star in the remaining 1980s and into the early 1990s. By 1999 as you can see, he was older and doing direct-to-video. This is not to denigrate Rutger Hauer; it was just unfortunate that time had passed and he was clearly pass his prime. Roy Dupois also starred as a humanoid robot killer disguised as human in 1996's SCREAMERS. He is completely unrecognizable between the two roles. In BLEEDERS I didn't like his brief, psycho attempted rape of his wife, Kristin Lehman. I'm just glad he came to his senses before hurting her. For the rest of the movie he is a sympathetic character. The later sex scene between him and his wife could have been ommitted. I thought it was out of place in 1999 and I still think so in 2008. I don't like it when directors throw in a quickie sex scene because they feel they have to show some T & A. One critic of the movie, obviously possessed of a sense of humor, correctly pointed out that the island's beleaguered citizens dispatched the mute young lady, Baby Laura, on guard duty, especially as she was a conspicuous hard liquor drinker.

I purchased BLEEDERS on VHS back in 1999 and today on DVD. I'm happy to have it on DVD now. For years I kept wondering what's taking the DVD release so long?

[–] unusualsuspect-1 15 years ago

Neither of the sex scenes was superfluous because the nature of each one illustrated John's mental and physical state at the time. In the first, the sex could be seen as a substitute for the craving that he couldn't identify. And, as he said, he was angry, knowing that he was dying. The second scene is part of what amounted to his rebirth, with the craving met and his health restored.

Glad I'm not the only one who appreciates the gothic element, which seems to be completely overlooked by reviewers.

[–] s-harrowgate 15 years ago

Well, this makes three of us now.

I think I was like 12 or something the first time I caught a glimpse of it, and it was the atmosphere that caught my atention.
Years later, I saw another movie with Rutger Houer and remembered him from "that dark movie". I looked it up and it's been one of my favorites since.

Personally, I think one of the reasons this one is underrated is because the plot has many layers. It recquires that the public actually makes some thinking, and sadly, many people are not willing to do that. Just take a look at most of these days movies! They're so vain and "light".