BLOOD CULT (1985)

CHARLIE’S REVIEW:

What an enticing video box! Blood Cult’s VHS case is oversize (major points there); features an illustrated, bloody meat cleaver (illustrated art is key); and informs any would-be renter that this movie was banned on two Midwestern college campuses. Not just any college campuses, mind you, but Midwestern ones!

POSSIBLE SCENARIO:
The setting is a Midwestern college campus. We are inside one of the college’s classrooms—tan walls, brown molding, drop ceiling. It is a 9:30 AM class, and the majority of students are half-asleep. Two guys drool.
A girl with permed hair sits in the third row, wearing an oversized gray sweatshirt that features the logo of this very Midwestern college. She usually chews gum, but not today. The course is Business Math. A student named Jimmy raises his hand and makes oohing noises. Too impatient to wait to be called on, he speaks.
JIMMY
Professor?
Professor Ross stops writing on the board, puts down his chalk, and turns to face the class.
PROFESSOR ROSS
(sighs)
What is it, Jimmy?
JIMMY
Professor, my friend made this movie called Blood Cult. It’s totally great. Can we watch it next class?
PROFESSOR ROSS
No, Jimmy. This is a Business Math course.
JIMMY
Well then, might one say that it has been banned on this campus…?
THE END

In addition to the proclamation of banishment, the Blood Cult box also claims to be the first video made for the direct-to-video market. A dubious distinction, indeed, but standing there in the video store’s horror aisle, I had a good feeling about this one.
And I wasn’t let down. Despite having unattractive and questionably skilled actors, not terribly compelling locations, and being shot on video, Blood Cult stands out as one of the highlights of ShockJune. It seems very American to me, with a few scenes of relatively good-looking girls in peril, a policeman who is good and honest—a true old-school hero—and a decently executed mystery. Plot-wise it is actually more focused than many higher budget American horror films, and most foreign horror, like your average Fulci movie.

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