Bad Blood (1982)

You won't be disappointed!

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Watching BAD BLOOD today, one is immediately struck by the similarities between the look, feel, and story of the movie and the contemporary FIRST BLOOD. Both films feature loner heroes who fall foul of polite society and then are forced into becoming fugitives. The difference between them is that FIRST BLOOD is a crowd-pleasing fantasy whereas BAD BLOOD is a brutal true story with all too depressing plot ingredients.The stunning New Zealand locations are some of the best things about this atmospheric and engaging story. It tells of a rural farmer who snaps when the local authorities show up to confiscate his rifles (they need them for the war effort, the film being set during WW2). Murder and a manhunt ensue, all of it directed well by British director Mike Newell (HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE).The emphasis of the film throughout is on realism and the naturalistic performances of the actors enhance the effect. There are some truly jaw-dropping moments to be found here and it's clear that Newell is doing everything in his power to avoid sentimentalising the story, instead sticking to the cold, hard facts. I found the downbeat nature of the production a little too strong for this to be a film you can really enjoy, but it's nonetheless a strong and vivid slice of film-making, and highly memorable with it.

Admittedly the title sounds like it's stolen from a lousy and cheesy 80's B-slasher movie, but "Bad Blood" is one of the most hauntingly dramatic depictions of a real-life human tragedy ever made. Set in New Zealand in 1938 and revolving on painful facts as they occurred there, "Bad Blood" tells the story of Stanley Graham and his wife Dorothy. They're outcasts in the small village community because of their rude and asocial behavior and the accumulation of financial problems slowly drives them to insanity. Stanley nearly has to go to prison for refusing to turn in his riffles and the woeful regards of the townsfolk become more and more hostile when the Grahams accuse them of poisoning their cattle. The script slowly and atmospherically builds up towards the inevitable tragedy of Stanley going irreversibly berserk and butchering seven people during a nightmarish rampage. This beautiful period piece, with marvelous costumes and set pieces, draws a mesmerizing portrait of human paranoia and despair. It also frighteningly illustrates how quickly a chain of little and seemingly insignificant events can escalate into a bloodbath, and that's truly disturbing to say the least. The sober music and gloomy photography epitomize the depressing tone of the film and Jack Thompson gives away one of the most perplexing performances I've ever seen. He should have received awards for his role, and the film in general as well for that matter. Carol Burns is equally amazing as his Dot, who may not have killed anyone but who's at least as dangerous as her husband, if not more. The climax sequences, revolving on the extended manhunt for Stanley after he fled into the open country, are also very gripping and effectively revealing the monstrous nature of people. Suddenly, the little town is overrun with people carrying riffles, most of them even unaware of the details of what happened exactly, simply to join the vigilante hunt for Stanley. No less than Mike Newell directed this sadly obscure little gem back in 1981. Nowadays he's an acclaimed director of slightly more light-headed films, like "Four Weddings and a Funeral", "Love in the Times of Cholera" and "Mona Lisa Smile". The fact that Newell was born and raised in England makes it even more admirable how he's capable of reflecting the typical New Zealand characters, culture and WWII background. I'm not aware of "Bad Blood" being available on DVD now, but the day it comes out make sure you grab a copy of this tense masterpiece. I certainly will.

Good Day to all the fine people on IMDb, I'd like to comment on the totally amazing movie that was written with such intensity and powerfully dramatic scenes.This movie is one that not too many know of, and is truly a "hidden Jem" of Australian/NZ cinema.The assortment of fine actors in this movie is truly compelling, from the talents of Jack Thompson (Star Wars) to the stunning Michael Teen (amazing!!), I cant believe Michael Teen was un-credited ...the skill brought to this part was INTENSE!!!...to say the least.The scenery is very well shot, excellent camera angles from Mike Newell, brilliant direction.

Bad Blood is the true story of West Coast (New Zealand) Eric Stanley Graham who, during the 1940's shot dead several people in the small village of Kowhitirangi, and sparked NZ's biggest manhunt in history. The film is both atmospheric and disturbing, and is well focussed on Graham and his family, and their gradual alienation from the small community. The bush setting only amplifies this claustrophobia. Both well acted and scripted, Bad Blood is worth more than a look.