Bloodmoon [DVD]

Australian horror filmmaking has a lot in common with, say, that of the Canadians. What I mean is, much like our northern brothers, the Australians never really achieved their own distinct style when it came to the horror film. Unlike the Italians, who puncuated their films with outrageous bouts of gore, nudity and style, or the Asians (especially the Japanese) who bring their own unique cultural ties to their films, the Aussies have always felt the need to copy American horror films down to the letter.

BLOODMOON is a perfect example of this. On the surface, it's nothing more than another needless HALLOWEEN/FRIDAY THE 13th clone: Set at an all-girls Catholic boarding school (that just so happens to be situated near an all-boys Catholic boarding school!), this tells the story of a black-gloved maniac who kills necking teens by strangling them with a loop of barbed wire and then gouging out their eyeballs.

So, yeah, there's nothing really unique about BLOODMOON. Or is there? The most interesting aspect of the film is that the killer (I won't say who) is revealed about halfway through. This leads to some unexpected plot turns and one genuinely tense sequence where two girls are cornered by him/her in a locked schoolhouse. There are some true moments to savor here, and the slick photography and above-average acting certainly helps.

Unfortunately, and somewhat ironically, the thing that most slasher movies are criticized for not having is what makes BLOODMOON such a failure. The film focuses waaaay too much on character development, to the point where it feels, at times, that it's one of those awful Aussie soaps like NEIGHBORS. It's the usual stuff: A rich American girl (an obvious attempt to appeal to US audiences -- the funny thing is, the actress is Australian and doesn't even TRY to hide her accent!) falls in love with the boy from the wrong side of the tracks; a nasty teacher is having an affair with one of the male students; and the two aformentioned girls who are cornered in the school are planning to steal a test to cheat off of. Yawn.

More importantly, when it actually comes time for the carnage, BLOODMOON is a total let-down. Apart from the previously-mentioned double murder in the school, the death scenes are all poorly handled, not too mention the fact that most of the deaths occur off-screen. In fact, the nastiest death is the least-bloody one, in which a teen girl has a nasty encounter with a desktop!

And worst of all, the ending sucks. It's one of those awful, inconclusive endings that leaves you hungering for more even though, much to your disappointment, the film's over.

So overall, BLOODMOON is a pretty sub-par film. It's not completely worthless, and granted it's one of the better slashers from the late 80's, but I can't really say that getting this Artisan DVD release of it is worth it. A rental at best.

Apart from the fact that NO one in this film can act!! And apart from the fact that they show you the murderer BEFORE the Fright Break.......well, there really is not much going for this piece of celuTrash whatsoever!!!! Unless of course you may want to pick it up to see the Glam Rock band who play at the school dance (the only reason I myself have a copy).

I sometimes hate to admit that yes, I am the singer of that band. It was a while ago now and I do look a lot different, but with this movie in particular, it can't possibly be rated anymore than Hitler can be called, ah, CUTE!!!

Buy it for a laugh and for the band.......but don't buy it for any frightening entertainment value.

Should be paying US to watch it!!!!

Very well done Aussie slasher with likeable characters and good story line. Worth a look.

If you want to see the worst Australian movies have to offer then watch this one. This show was launched in Australia with a brilliant promo that worked .... with dire warnings of possible heart problems from viewing and working on fear of public humiliation, the distributors dared viewers that if they were too scared to watch the last half hour of this "the most scariest, frightening, goriest film ever made", they would be refunded their ticket money, the only catch was they had to remain in a roped off area in the lobby signed "I was too chicken to watch". The movie was sheer torture to watch and I'm embarrassed to say the promo sucked me in. If only I had of gone for the refund, as its a 100 minutes of my life I'll never get back. Awful acting, bad scripting, very poor special effects. Some movies are fun to watch because they are awful, this stinker doesnt even entertain and cant even be considered B grade. 0 out of 5

great service and delivery, only problem was the movie, not the one I thought it was, but thanks