Horror films often receive a bad reputation. Mostly because so many believe it’s all just about blood, guts, and gore. At times, it can be. Depending on what you watch. Personally, I’m more into psychological horror films. Particularly those that make you think and still manage to blend in the twisty elements you expect with any horror movie. That’s exactly what documentary filmmaker Pedro Kos’s first narrative film, In Our Blood, does.
In Our Blood stars Brittany O’Grady as Emily Wyland, a filmmaker who teams up with a cinematographer named Danny (E. J. Bonilla) to shoot a documentary about her reuniting with her estranged mother, Sam (Alanna Ubach), after a decade apart. When her mother suddenly goes missing, possibly succumbing to the addictions that first tore her family apart, Emily and Danny must piece together increasingly sinister clues to find her before it’s too late.
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When In Our Blood opens, Emily is sitting alone in a room, tears on her face, wearing a tank top stained with blood. It’s obvious she’s just been through something. She’s got a key in hand, and it’s unclear for what. As the camera rolls, she says, “I can’t be part of the system anymore.” With that, the film rewinds and takes us back to the first day of the documentary shoot.
The formula of starting any film with what is generally the ending can sometimes be a risky move because it must be done in a way that doesn’t give too much away. It’s also a great way to start a film because it grabs the attention, and you immediately want to know more. Except for the beginning of the film, In Our Blood starts a little slow. However, that slowness works. It enhances the documentary aspect of the movie and ratchets up the tension when Emily and Sam are reunited. There’s an unspoken feeling of hurt as the two try to pretend that everything is fine so that Danny doesn’t feel uncomfortable.
Emily and Sam’s reunion is an emotional one, and there is still so much the two don’t say to each other. Sam’s history of addiction has caused a lot of issues for them. When she goes missing, Emily decides to track her down. And from that point on, the film shifts, and Emily and Danny work to uncover a mystery that takes them down a dangerous path.
Throughout the entirety of In Our Blood, the documentary remains focused. Emily tells Danny to keep filming. As he films with his camera, she films with her iPhone. This gives us both of their points of view. There is a shared camaraderie in this because they are both facing a similar set of circumstances. But for Danny, there’s an even bigger risk in being in Las Cruces.
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Emily captures a moment of him being racially profiled by the police after someone breaks into their hotel. In this current political climate, it’s a scene that isn’t overly done for the sake of shock. It’s done in a real way to showcase a very real situation. Two young people who happen to be minorities would, unfortunately, experience something like that. Especially being from out of town. The situation affects him a lot and leads to a heated exchange between him and Emily later in the film. Like Emily, Danny has past trauma of his own, and I honestly wish the film had explored it a bit more.
Before closing out this review, I have to acknowledge the performances from Brittany and E. J. The two of them are very talented. I already knew Brittany was in her days on Lee Daniels’ series Star. But doing a horror film is different. There are so many unspoken moments from her during In Our Blood. Her performance commands your attention.
This is a movie you can’t look away from. It requires focus on every detail, or you might miss something. And it only adds to the twist, which you may or may not see coming. E. J. brought a lot of heart to Danny. And some comic relief. He makes Danny a lovable friend. It’s unclear how long he and Emily have known each other, but he seems to care about her, and he provides the support she needs. Because of this, adds a sadness to the twist when it comes.
In Our Blood is a good film to watch if you’re a fan of the found footage horror genre. And it has the right balance by adding the mystery and psychological components. It’s also a film that will make you take a second look because immediately when the credits roll, you’ll be questioning what you just watched. I was shocked when the end came, and I’m not kidding when I said I watched it a second time. If you like movies that give you something new to find each time you watch, give In Our Blood a watch.
In Our Blood is out now in select theatres. Head to inourblood.utopia.film to find yours.
