BLISS (2019)

Written & Directed By: Joe Begos 
Cinematography By: Mike Testin 
Editor: Josh Ethier 

Cast: Dora Madison, Tru Collins, Rhys Wakefield, Jeremy Gardner, Graham Skipper, Chris McKenna, Rachel Avery, Abraham Benrubi, George Wendt 

A brilliant painter facing the worst creative block of her life turns to anything she can to complete her masterpiece, spiraling into a hallucinatory hellscape of drugs, sex, and murder in the sleazy underbelly of Los Angeles.

This movie takes you on an experience, Hers. There is no romanticism here. Nor is there a lot of explanation.

This is a punk rock horror movie full of sex, drugs and violence. The film has no really likeable characters. As the lead barely comes close as she is neglectful and comes off More masculine in her attitude and behavior.

Dora Madison gives her all in the lead and makes an impression. As in the previous roles i have seen her in she tends to play more innocent characters. not to mention much younger.

The film’s seems to be making a statement on artist’s dependent on vices to open up imagination and feel creative.

Showing Vampirism can be just as addictive as drugs as the main character goes deeper she becomes more addicted and obsessed as well as it makes it seem like she is losing her mind. Though eventually it is all she cares about.

Once she sobers up. She doesn’t remember all the damage she has done and hurts those close to her mainly. She becomes sympathetic at times when she is going through withdrawal. Maybe that’s why they are addicts to not remember their actions and numb themselves from any guilt.

You believe at first it’s the drugs messing her up they only seem to add and enhance the seduction and changes. As it also might be the couple she is introduced to and sleeps with. The Drugs are just giving her the numbing agent to help Forget her actions. As after she discovers her sickness is cured by blood. She acts out, out of needs and survival.

Most of the victims are male in this movie which is a breath of fresh air and doesn’t turn the film into a femanist statement either. Allowing for a female point of view just as vivid and exploitive yet turns the tables and becomes as far from feminine as you can get.

The film is sloppy and messy when it comes to the violence. This isn’t a Giallo even though director Joe Begos shows himself to be a craftsman with the way the film is shot.

The film’s attitude is more rock n roll flight for all extremes. Especially when the character Goes into kill mode no one is safe. As it doesn’t matter she hurts and kills and it turns into a literal bloodbath. On the road to hell, with some trash heavy metal thrown in.

The film has sloppy yet great and gory practical special effects. It’s A psychedelic ride throughout.

The film’s theme seems to be embrace your dark side take responsibility for your actions.

Not for the squeamish as this film is actually rated NC-17 with a twisted ending that gives meaning to the expression dying for your art. So To speak.

Grade: B