By Amy Watkins
If you go into Andrew Bell’s Bleeding expecting nothing more than your run-of-the-mill vampire fest, you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise. What unfolds isn’t your usual parade of fangs and bloodlust. Instead, Bleeding is a gripping descent into the shadowy depths of addiction, cloaked in the guise of a vampire narrative.
Bleeding follows cousins Sean (Jasper Jones) and Eric (John R. Howley), two drug-addicted teens grappling with turbulent home lives. But when Sean turns to Blood, a drug infused with vampire essence that causes death and vampirism if overdosed, Eric finds himself in the centre of Sean’s pummelling descent into addiction. A unique take on the vampire subgenre, the pair find themselves entangled in a dangerous game as Sean’s addiction gradually worsens all while at the mercy of a ruthless drug dealer.
The story is straightforward but unflinching in its portrayal of Sean’s addiction, making for a powerful and uncomfortable watch. Bell captures the destructive nature of addiction with raw precision. Sean and Eric represent two contrasting paths: while Eric faces neglect from his mentally ill mother, he resists falling into the trap of “blood.” In contrast, Sean’s vulnerability to the drug drives his self-destruction. And that’s addiction at its core—relentless, unforgiving, and destructive, pulling Sean deeper into chaos, while Eric struggles to stay afloat in a world crumbling around them.
Visually, Bleeding captures the bleakness of its subject matter, and Bell’s restraint with gore is one of the film’s greatest strengths. While there is undoubtedly copious amounts of blood throughout the film, Bell doesn’t rely on shocking bloodshed to unsettle us. Instead, he leans into the psychological turmoil that comes with addiction. He takes his time, allowing us to fully absorb the gravity of Sean’s circumstances. Another highlight is the depiction of the vampires themselves. They bear a closer resemblance to drug addicts and trafficking victims rather than the typical supernatural threats we’re accustomed to. We see these “monsters” in a more compassionate light, drawing attention to the stigmatisation of those battling addiction or facing exploitation.
The performances in Bleeding contribute greatly to the film’s emotional weight, with Jasper Jones leading the charge as Sean. Jones masterfully portrays addiction with a raw intensity that grips. Equally, John R. Howley offers a compelling contrast as Eric, embodying the emotional toll that addiction takes on those closest to the afflicted. Together, Jones and Howley create a powerful dynamic that amplifies the film’s core themes of loss, dependency, and broken relationships, elevating the film beyond its supernatural premise and grounding it in the very real horrors of addiction.
At its core, Bleeding is a haunting exploration of the consequences of addiction and the ripple effect it has on everyone caught in its grasp. Instead of fanged creatures of the night, we encounter deeply flawed characters fighting their own battles, making Bleeding not just a horror story but a poignant commentary on the human condition.
Bleeding screened as part of Grimmfest 2024.
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