It's in the Blood (2012)

Directed by Scooter Downey

Written by Downey and Sean Elliot

Starring Elliot and Lance Henriksen

Runtime 81min. - Not Rated (R-ish)

3 Stars (out of 4)

Now available on Amazon Instant and Vudu

Typically, when you rent a direct-to-video horror film with Lance Henriksen as its biggest star, you prepare yourself for mediocrity. That doesn't mean Henriksen's low-budget splatter flicks aren't fun, just not good. "It's in the Blood" completely turns that notion on its head. 

*Warning, the following paragraph contains loads of spoilers.*
The film features a father and son who, after an injury, get stranded in the forest where they're forced to fend off some mysterious predatory monster. For most horror films that would be the entire plot but "It's in the Blood" offers exponentially more. In fact, the amount of plot is both its greatest strength and weakness. It's refreshing to see well-developed characters, but sometimes the audience is expected to take on too much information. The lead character is dealing with extreme tragedy. His girlfriend/adopted sister was raped and killed by a stalker. The stalker is the town's deputy sheriff. The lovers' father is the town sheriff. The town sheriff could have saved them but was drunk - he became an alcoholic after his wife's death. Is that enough? No, our lead character also has photographic memory that comes in handy at the most convenient times. Plus he deals with depression by cutting and has been avoiding his dad for over a year. So it only makes sense that they decide to go on a long hike together.


If you skipped that last paragraph, let me just say that our characters are dealing with a very thick back-story that would easily fuel an entire film of its own. So it seems sadistic to now have this father and son fending off a grotesque forest monster.

To their credit, the filmmakers manage to jam this massive story into a very short runtime with much success. The secrets unfold slowly with flashbacks that parallel the duo's present struggle. It's not a perfect film, but it's rare to see a legitimate horror film with substance. I almost never fall for jump-scares but "It's in the Blood" jolted me on numerous occasions and kept my muscles tense until the end.

A minor leg wound for Henriksen's character. Neosporin anyone?

 
Lance Henriksen isn't necessarily known for his terrific acting skills. Here he offers an incredibly dynamic performance. He has a real feel for this role that makes his lines sound authentic and natural. The chemistry between he and Sean Elliot, who plays his son, is spot on. I would have never imagined Henriksen in this role, and I certainly never have imagined he'd do it so much justice.

Horror fans love finding a hidden gem. It makes all those eye-bleeding hours of watching awful films worth it. "It's in the Blood" is that hidden gem.