SMP Reviews
 Anastasia Elfman - Bloody Bridget (2023) Sanity takes a back seat in the new horror comedy, Bloody Bridget, from veteran filmmaker Richard Elfman. Bridget O’Brian is a burlesque dancer whose boss is horrible to her, her boyfriend cheats on her, and her scum-bag lawyer hits on her. Then when she finds herself in jail, she is abused by the warden. Not able to take any more, Bridget decides to end her life but her attempt is thwarted by Baron Samedi who believes her to be his wife Maman Bridget reincarnated. He turns O’Brian into a “Valentine Vampire” who takes the term “Eat your Heart Out” literally. She has a blood lust that can only be satiated by eating the heart of a person. She uses this new-found power to exact revenge but, as is always the case, there is a price. Bridget doesn’t want to pay the bill for her new powers so she enlists the help of a rag tag group of individuals that include a priest, two lawyers and her best friend to get her out of the pickle she is in.  Bloody Bridget is a bloody punk rock fever dream that is exactly what you hope for from the director of The Forbidden Zone. The gonzo energy of this cinematic experience was very refreshing. From the kinetic editing to the rainbow of colorful characters, all of it had me smiling from frame one. As wild as this story is, it has a cohesive narrative with character arcs and a satisfying conclusion. Anastasia Elfman plays Bridget O’Brian and I cannot think of a better person for this part. She has an infectious energy that lifts every scene. You can tell she is enjoying this role, especially when she Bridge-outs, which is what I call it when she turns into the vampire Bloody Bridget. The vampire makeup on Anastasia looked amazing. From the wild hair, to the glowing red eyes, and let's not leave out the teeth nipples. Anastasia will have you cheering and laughing every time she devours the hearts of the wicked.  The supporting cast are just as entertaining. Jean Charles plays Baron Samedi to a tee. I loved every moment he was on screen. Bridget at one point hires new legal counsel in the form of Daniel Dershowitz Sr and Daniel Dershowitz Junior. Dershowitz Senior is played by Rick Howland and Junior is played by Evan Ekenrode. These two were amazing together and I was happy to see them play a major part in the second half of the film and not just be one off type characters. Marcos Mateo Ochoa is Pepe, Bridget's loyal yet silent bestie. Pepe conveys nearly everything through pantomime perfectly. Ochoa’s interaction with Anastasia made for some funny and touching moments. While Tom Ayers is the boss that you are gonna love to hate, Tony. He seems to be relishing playing this awful character. The thing I loved about everyone involved is that they seemed to be having legitimate fun. It was as if we were watching a bunch of friends who just got together to do a play for themselves. The audience around me was laughing, whooping and hollering with delight which added to the viewing experience.  Bloody Bridget’s overall production value reminded me of classic campy Full Moon Features. The sets, lighting, and composited backgrounds all gave it the feel of those direct-to-video films that made Full Moon famous and made me fall in love with b-movies. As you may expect, the music used is a perfect fit for every scene, thanks to the involvement of Danny Elfman and Ego Plum. Listen for a classic Oingo Boingo tune or two as well. Fingers crossed we will get a vinyl release of the soundtrack. At one point there is a band playing in the bar where Bridget works and all the band members have masks. I suspect if you looked underneath those masks you would find the members of Oingo Boingo but that could just be wishful thinking on my part.  This film is not going to be for everyone, but if you are a fan of campy, schlocky, bloody, horror-comedy-musicals with high energy and some T&A, then Bloody Bridget is for you. I highly recommend you go see it if it is showing at a festival near you. While you may find it a good watch at home, it is more entertaining to experience it with an audience. I can’t wait for another helping of Bloody Bridget when the inevitable sequel comes out.
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In the past, when it has come to comedy and faith, it is usually faith that ends up being a butt of the joke. I have seen a number of independent films recently that have taken a different approach to the genre, portraying faith as part of the joke rather than the victim of it. Joe Crist is one of those films. It tells the story of Joe Crist, a rather successful bounty hunter who has grown in reputation of being a badass killer over the past three years. When he shows up in town to visit an old friend, he takes a job to track down a missing girl. While looking into it, Crist is shot and put in a coma. When he awakens forty days later, he discovers he has a divine power. With his new powers, Crist saves people from the icy grip of death and delivers justice to the vicious gang that controls the town with fear and violence.  Director Mark Allen Michaels manages to make Joe Crist a funny, lighthearted western that involves faith -elements without making fun of the faith itself. The idea of a bounty hunter using his divine powers against evil forces is wrapped in a satirical western skin that many fans of the genre will enjoy. Joe wonderfully played by Dallas Valdez. There is definitely a Clint Eastwood spirit in this character, the gruff voice and the steely-eyed look is definitely there. Unlike “The Man With No Name”. Valdez has a grin curled around the corners of his mouth letting you know that not only is he having fun but what type of film you are in for. I loved the gimmick Joe had of always taking the clothing from his bounties if he found their clothes more appealing than what he had on. This was done just enough times to make me laugh out loud without it overstaying its welcome. Carrie Keagan is Maggie, the local bartender and Joe’s love interest. Joe and Maggie are wonderful together. Valdez and Keagan have an adorable chemistry which helps sell the feelings the two characters have for each other. Del, Joe’s loyal and trusted friend, is played by Curt Lambert. He happily carries most of the comic relief with tossing out one-liners while he carries a drink in his hand everywhere he goes. The rest of the cast is fun to watch as well. Everyone knows what type of film they are making and that fun energy comes through to the audience.  Joe Crist is not a heavy movie by any means. The bad guys do typical western bad guy things but those scenes are handled with a lighter touch. The special effects are serviceable for the type of film this is though they could have cut back on the CGI blood. In some scenes the quality of the effects adds to the humor. There was a rough patch in the dialog in the middle of the film that I wish would have been cleaned up. At one point Del makes a reference to how long Joe has been gone but later in the film that number changes. It might have been done as a gag but it was one of the only jokes that didn’t land for me. This is a very light, non-preachy, breezy western comedy with a fun, talented cast. Those who enjoy westerns will find a lot here to make them smile as will those who enjoy faith themed movies, if they don’t mind the violence. While it may not be for everyone, I think it’s overall positive spirit makes it worth an hour of your time.  |
AuthorI have been reviewing films since high school. I love discussing films with those who share my passion for them. I also do video reviews on YouTube and on my podcast. Archives
August 2024
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