Set in the summer of 1985, Blood Barn follows Josie (Lena Redford), a camp counsellor who gathers her friends (played by Chloe Cherry, Andrea Bambina, Simon Paris, Samuel Lanier, Felipe Di Poi, and Pierce Campion) for a final weekend at her family’s secluded barn before they part ways for college. However, their fun and nostalgic getaway soon erupts into violent chaos when a malevolent force awakens and begins attacking the group. As the night spirals further out of control, Josie is forced to confront the legacy surrounding the barn.
Directed by Gabriel Bernini in his feature debut, and co-written Alexandra Jade, Blood Barn is impressive for a retro, low-budget possession flick that wears its influences on its sleeve—mainly The Evil Dead. The film has great visuals, including its VHS aesthetic, set design, and fun practical effects, such as clothes sinking into the earth, as well as slithering creatures, exploding heads, and bleeding eyes. There are also much simpler but still effective makeup effects to transform characters into possessed versions of themselves. The editing is interesting, too, making excellent use of a dissolve. The film is genuinely creepy at times, especially thanks to its sound design and direction.
Blood Barn evokes an overall nostalgia for the 80s and not just for horror, but for friendships that exist in the real world and not just on screens. There are visually gorgeous and infectious scenes of the group slashing around in the lake, playing volleyball, and partying with alcohol in the barn. The score and soundtrack, which were written and performed by Jonathan Rado, are fantastic and feel very 70s/80s rock. The film truly feels like it’s from a different era.
The weakest elements come from the writing and amateur performances. The dialogue is weak and the story is underdeveloped and becomes somewhat boring. Even at 76 minutes, the pacing struggles at times but the practical effects soon up the ante and reinvoke the energy needed. There’s a marked difference in shaky performances between actors who are having a good time and actors who are just having a time, but fortunately this features the former which makes it more enjoyable. Some performances are better than others, but the quality varies throughout. Chloe Cherry of Euphoria fame will be a strong draw, as might Robert Redford’s mostly unknown granddaughter Lena in her first major role. These elements can be expected in a low-budget production and, for some, it’s often part of their charm.
Blood Barn is an entertaining, high-energy comedy horror that is best watched at a film festival or with friends. It’s perfect for genre fans who are used to the camp, low-budget style, plus it excels in inspiring others to go out and make their own movies with a bunch of friends. For all its flaws, Blood Barn stands out for the skill and talent behind the actual filmmaking. Bernini and his crew are definitely worth keeping an eye on.
Blood Barn will be released on Screambox on 17th February (US + Canada).
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