Wrestling Horror Here for Blood (2024) Drums Up Applause on Screambox
Title: Here for Blood
First Non-Festival Release: February 9, 2024 (Digital/Streaming Platforms)
Director: Daniel Turres
Writer: James Roberts
Runtime: 100 Minutes
Starring: Shawn Roberts, Maya Misaljevic, Joelle Farrow
Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here
Trying to be a supportive boyfriend, pro wrestler Tom (Shawn Roberts) agrees to stand in and babysit ten-year-old Grace (Maya Misaljevic) so his girlfriend Phoebe (Joelle Farrow) can get some much-needed studying in the night before an exam. The night starts off well enough, until a group of invaders disrupt their quiet evening and kickstart a battle for Grace’s life. With only his brawn, indomitable will, and various household appliances at his disposal, Tom will go to any length to protect his charge.
Here for Blood is an amusing home invasion horror comedy that hits familiar beats with aplomb.
Pairing a largely stoic wrestler with a particularly precocious little girl is far from a new idea, but Here for Blood works because of the time it takes to develop its leads. Tom is a nice enough guy marked by his laid-back approach to life and his fierce desire to protect those he loves. Grace develops much like other young characters in horror comedies. Serving as a quirky stand-in for the creators, her quips and attitude color her most. As Here for Blood gets deeper into its home invasion horror, it cements just how vulnerable Grace is and how he is her last hope for survival. The unlikely duo’s chemistry and unexpectedness make for plenty of fun moments in Here for Blood.
While its story and characters are endearing enough, Here for Blood suffers from poor pacing. Lulls in between assaults on the house leave those locked in, and the audience, waiting for the next attack with impatience. Even in the smaller confrontations, the scenes drag for far too long. Unable to maintain tension, Here for Blood lives and dies by these fight sequences, coasting on the hilarity rather than fear. By the time it reaches its finale, Here for Blood has certifiably stretched its already bloated two-hour runtime. Striking the balance is essential and unfortunately Here for Blood falls short.
Shawn Roberts anchors the film while playing off the solid ensemble cast. Tom is an easy-to-like guy, and Roberts makes rooting for him even easier. Roberts takes a dry approach to the role, keeping Tom’s emotions rather muted as he smashes through the makeshift army of brittle demons. Flexing on his haters, literally and metaphorically, Tom’s multipart brawl works because of Roberts’ charisma and look. His massive frame and confident portrayal of various fighting techniques make it easy to picture him as the muscly avenger. While not emotionally demanding, Roberts deserves credit for making the fight sequences look effortless.
The real star of Here for Blood, however, is the practical effects team, as the gore is plentiful and vicious as hell. Clearly the focus of the film, Here for Blood is not shy with getting wild and creative with its various death sequences. Mere cannon fodder for the giant fighter, the demons crumble in hilarious and crowd-pleasing ways alongside his friends. The kitchen has some particularly devilish instruments that get used in the best ways. Soaked in fake blood and other viscera, Here for Blood revels in its violence even if it doesn’t have much impact thanks to its goofier tone. It’s well-done and practical, which means gorehounds will rejoice when they get their hands on this indie.
For those seeking a gore splattered laugh fest, Here for Blood should be able to satisfy your urges for a simple popcorn flick. A solid lead performance, affable characters, and excellent special effects make this wrestler-based horror punch above its weight. It doesn’t quite land all the scares or jokes but there’s enough heart behind the production to embrace it. If a professional wrestler lying to waste a bunch of demon cultists doesn’t sound like a good time, it might be best to skip. Otherwise, it sounds like you’re Here for Blood.
Overall Score? 6/10
