6/22/20 - BLISS (2019) - 6/10

One of the most inventive vampire and horror films in quite a while. Less a sensual exploration of the magic of the children of the night, but a traumatic and psychedelic dive into the pit of the unknown. Answers are in short supply but the feeling of desperate psychological horror abound for this blood sucking by way of Jacob’s Ladder. The mixture of sex, drugs, and the impassioned artisitc spririt living on the bleeding razor’s edge of sanity all blend into a pulsating whirlpool of pain, paint, pleasure, and panic.

The questioning of her sanity and the role of drugs, stress, psychosis, and supernatural contributed to the audience constantly identifying with the elusive reality of the situation. Until the 3rd act, you don’t know what exactly is going on. Dora Madison’s explosive performance as the foul mouthed and abrasive struggling artist was ensnaring. She oozed style, grace, and believability. Vulnerable but hard edged like a mutha. I loved what she did here.

It’s a vampire film only in namesake, because it isn’t about the vampiric afterlife, but it is another insane thing happening in the character’s life that she has no way to know or understand. Vampirism as drug trip/addiction and victims being tangible psychosis was just the right type of nuanced mutation of the mythos. Quite the fan, both because of and despite its B-movie aura. It isn’t going to stop anyone’s heart, but it was quite good for what it is and should live forever.