Director
Robert Krause
Cast
Rebecca Palmer Anne
Ben Price Chris
Tom Frederic Michael
DVD Release Date: March 13, 2007
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 87 Minutes
The Movie
Anne is not happy with Michael and is looking for a bit of revenge. On one of her bike messenger missions, she is sitting on a bench taking a break when a cop, Chris, comes up thinking she looks troubled. A quick conversation and she has his number written on her arm and a small smile on her face.
One day later and all Anne knows is she woke up in Chris’ bed and is not sure whether he raped or if she simply had sex with him of her own free will. Needless to say, guilt has gotten the best of her and she plans to make it up to Michael without of course telling him why. She plans a weekend of biking up in the mountains at one of their favorite cabins and feels it will be good for them to reconnect.
Some really awkward moments though on their first day out keep Michael confused and it’s mostly because of the constant flashbacks that Anne keeps having. The guilt does finally get the best of her though after a man (in full biking gear including tinted helmet) shows up and just stands in there way for a second. Anne realizes it was Chris and admits the entire thing to him letting Michael know it was a big mistake and she only wants to be with him. That is when Chris shows back up and miraculously slices Michael’s throat with the derailleur gear on his bike, killing him instantly. From then on it’s a race by Anne through the wilderness to stay alive.
I am not quite sure where to begin on the audacity of the filmmakers of Blood Trails if they actually want us to buy that it is realistic at all. The way Chris kills Michael is not only absurd, but it’s impossible. There is no way in hell he could possibly slice his throat with the gears without slamming him in the face with the tire first.
Throw in the fact that there is no logic to the film at all and it just gets even more stupid. Never once do we find out if Anne and Michael are married, just dating, or what because there is not a bit of explanation. There is no closure to her sleeping with Chris because it’s never revealed if she in fact “was” raped or simply slept with him of her own accord. The film simply jumps from Anne and Michael talking to Chris introducing himself to Michael’s death and finally to Anne riding around scared shitless for an hour. Even before Michael’s death, Anne goes off on a bike ride by herself for a full eleven minutes.
Yes, it is eleven minutes of her riding her bike alone.
It amazes me that they were able to stretch this film to an hour and a half when it could have been done in thirty minutes as a Tales From The Crypt and been done so much better. The only part of the film I recommend waiting for if you do have the DVD is about eighty minutes in. Anne is tied to a chair and gagged while the police show up. She tries hopping around and ends up simply falling over sideways and then a mirror just tumbles over and breaks over her head. One of the funniest things you’ll have seen in years; I guarantee it.
The Video
The film is shown in 2.35:1 Widescreen format and looks alright. Really didn’t like the very small widescreen presentation for this film. That should be reserved for blockbusters and films that just scream “phenomenal.” This one certainly doesn’t. And the blurry look given at times would have been bearable if they would have happened during something important, but they just happen randomly and are annoying.
The Audio
The film is heard in 2.0 or 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio and isn’t very good at all. The music has way too much bass and gets extremely too loud at times. Conversations can barely be heard which causes you to turn the volume up and then five seconds later you are deafened by the fast-paced music of another biking scene.
Special Features
Trailers – Return Of The Living Dead: Rave To The Grave, Ed Gein: The Butcher Of Plainfield, Silent Scream, High Tension, The Descent, Open Water 2: Adrift, and Hostel Part II
The Inside Pulse
There is no reason why you should want to purchase this DVD. There are no special features besides some trailers you can find on the internet, and even some you don’t want to find. The film is just totally awful and has no redeeming value whatsoever. I suggest you flip the channels until you come across the Travel Channel and wait for a mountain biking show. While you’re watching it, imagine there’s blood. And TA-DA, you’ve made a movie.
