Blood Fest is a 2018 American comedy horror film written and directed by Owen Egerton (director of Mercy Black; Follow; writer of The Axe Murders of Villisca).
The Rooster Teeth Productions movie stars Seychelle Gabriel, Jacob Batalon, and Tate Donovan.
Plot:
Fans flock to a festival celebrating the most iconic horror movies, only to discover that the charismatic showman behind the event has a diabolical agenda.
As festival attendees start dying off, best friends Sam (Seychelle Gabriel) and Dax (Robbie Kay), along with the hapless Krill (Jacob Batalon), must outwit the charismatic showman with a secret, diabolical agenda…
Release:
Blood Fest received a one-night theatrical showing via Rooster Teeth on August 14, 2018. It premiered on digital VOD on August 31, 2018, and is released as a Blu-ray + DVD combo on October 2, 2018.
Buy Blu-ray + DVD: Amazon.com
Reviews:
If you’re looking for a serious, scary horror movie to watch, you’ll want to keep on going right past writer/director Owen Egerton’s Blood Fest. But if you’re in the mood for a horror comedy that keeps the laughs and bloodshed coming at a steady pace, that’s exactly what Blood Fest does during its 92 minute running time.” Arrow in the Head
“It’s a formulaic meta-horror movie that for most of its runtime tries too hard, but there’s a sincerity about the movie that keeps it zipping along […] But Blood Fest will find a place to thrive, and that’s in the online space.” The Austin Chronicle
“There is a smugness that fills nearly every frame of Blood Fest. The film grinds to a halt every time a joke is uttered, almost as if the film is holding for applause. This wouldn’t be as bothersome if the film was actually clever, but it’s not.” Bloody Disgusting
“Blood Fest doesn’t aim to be a be-all-end-all horror film parody. It’s simply splattery and silly, but in a blackly good-humored way that has the colorful enthusiasm of an R-rated Goosebumps movie for adults. Like any comedy, individual mileage will vary according to how hard and how often its humor hits.” Culture Crypt
“The kind of self-referential horror comedy in which Blood Fest traffics isn’t especially original, but originality isn’t really this movie’s goal. This movie wants to be a gory, silly love letter to horror and horror fandom. It wants to be fun, and fun it is. I mean that in the best possible way.” Daily Dead
“There’s more than enough gore, violence, and horror visuals to please any fan of the genre but the issues arise when you look at it from a technical perspective. The story is littered with plot holes, some of which are so large and unexplained that it is impossible to overlook.” Dread Central
” …the film has several amazing on screen kills. Some make great use of practical effects while others rely heavily on very noticeable computer generated effects. The practical alone looks fantastic but the CGI sticks out like a sore thumb. Overall, Blood Fest was a surprisingly fun and gory horror film meant for horror fans.” Horror Society
“Using broad creative strokes to let the audience know we’re all in on the joke, Blood Fest is never quite as smart as some of its predecessors but remains goofy and brutal throughout. Breaking away from the mainstream, the people behind the project knew exactly when to go for the throat.” The Movie Sleuth
“The jokes are often hit or miss, but it was fun pointing out the many nods the film has to some genre favs. Blood Fest proves to be better in concept than in execution, but still remains to be fairly entertaining, especially if you can ignore some of the glaring plot-holes.” Upcoming Horror Movies
Main cast and characters:
Seychelle Gabriel … Sam
Robbie Kay … Dax Conway – Sleepy Hollow TV series; Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides; Hannibal Rising
Jacob Batalon … Krill – North Woods
Chris Doubek … Hinckley – The Horrible Life of Doctor Ghoul (short)
Rebecca Wagner … Jayme
Zachary Levi … a cameo role
Barbara Dunkelman … Ashley
Owen Egerton … Anthony Walsh
Nick Rutherford … Lenjamin – Pacific Heights
Tate Donovan … Doctor Conway – Godzilla: The Series; Tales from the Crypt TV series
Film Facts:
Includes a clip of Bela Lugosi in White Zombie (1932).
Teaser trailer:
