Bleeding Review: Unique Vampire Addiction Allegory
Streaming Movie Review - Horror - VOD
Vampirism as an allegory for some kind of addiction is a reasonably common storytelling device. However, writer and director Andrew Bell adds a unique spin on this well-worn idea in his new film Bleeding, now available on ScreamBox and VOD.
After losing his brother a year ago to addiction, Eric (John R. Howley) and his mom, Jess (Chloe Sirene), have been struggling. Jess sleeps all day, while Eric smokes pot that he gets from his cousin and best friend, Sean (Jasper Jones). On one visit to Sean, Eric discovers that his cousin has moved from pot to something much more deadly - a drug made from the blood of vampires, and the same drug that killed Eric’s brother.
When Sean’s dad, Hank (Jay Dunn), discovers and destroys the drugs, the cousins need to figure out a way to repay the drug dealer who gave Sean the product in advance. While they are looking for a way to get more of the product, they discover their former classmate Sara (Tori Wong) has been turned into a vampire, and her blood is being harvested. This leads the cousins to find out who the real monsters are in this world.
Something genuinely unique about Bleeding is that it treats the vampires with so much compassion. While in most films, vampires are the monsters, in this film, they are nearly as much victims as the people who are addicted to their blood. One of the reasons I tend to avoid vampire movies is that I prefer monsters that reveal the inhumanity of people. This film flips that script in a way that really works, treating vampirism as a disease and portraying vampires as often being exploited as a resource.
That said, the horror in this is very well done, particularly on a smaller budget. There is a rising tension throughout the film that keeps the viewer engaged, and when the violence occurs, it is as disturbing as one might hope. The visuals throughout are impressive, and the framing is beautifully done. Filmed in the Pacific Northwest, the outdoor shots are gorgeous, while also contributing to the isolation that allows the monsters to thrive.
Most of the performances are fine, but Bleeding centers on the cousins, and both Howley and Jones do an excellent job in their roles. The two genuinely behave like family, both when they are working together and when they push one another away. Both of their individual scenes are well done, but they really shine when the two of them are performing together.
Horror has always been an exceptional genre for exploring social issues, and vampire movies have consistently been one of the best subgenres for examining addiction. Bleeding manages to be both a very solid horror movie and an impressive allegory for addiction. No matter your reason for tuning into this film, it is worth your time.
Rating: 3.5/5
This review originally appeared in The Dominion Post on June 14, 2025.
Check out my interview with director Andrew Bell and star John R. Howley.