AFF Film Review: Blood Punch

Starring: Milo Cawthorne, Olivia Tennet, Ari Boyland
Directed by: Madellaine Paxson (debut)
Written by: Eddie Guzelian (debut)

Take a couple of former actors from “Power Rangers R.P.M.” and a writer and director team whose credits include “Lilo and Stitch: The Series” and “Kim Possible,” among other children’s shows and what do you get? How about the dark, vulgar, and hyper-violent spiritual cousin of “Groundhog Day?”

In “Blood Punch,” Milton (Milo Cawthorne) finds himself in a rehab center looking to get clean. But in a group session, he meets Skyler (Olivia Tennet) a girl who is looking for someone to help her cook meth. After a bit of convincing, they sneak out of the rehab with the help of Skyler’s psycho cop boyfriend Russell (Ari Boyland) and make it out to a secluded cabin. Once at the cabin, the plan is revealed to cook meth and make quick money. But things go terribly awry, and the trio all wake up the next morning finding that the day they just lived is repeating.

Most of the film serves as a playground for Tennet, who really eats up the offensive and brutal dialogue that is given to her character and approaches the role head on. Throughout the film, her character straddles the line of trying too hard to be a badass, and while she occasionally steps over, you can clearly tell how much fun she’s having with the role. There’s plenty of dark humor to go around, especially with the films unapologetic approach to violence. For what it’s worth, it’s a film that knows exactly what it wants to be and for that reason, the tone is consistent throughout.

The film, while certainly enjoyable enough to maintain interest, occasionally gets a little too twisty, ridiculous plot-wise and marginally acted by some the supporting cast. Regardless, “Blood Punch” is a fun film whose dark humor, twisted plot and unabashed attitude will make it a late-night favorite in the festival circuit.

“Blood Punch” is showing on Saturday, October 26th at 7:45 PM at the Alamo Drafthouse Village and Thursday, October 31st at 9:30 at the Rollins Theatre during Austin Film Festival 2013.

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