The art of filmmaking is often synonymous with symbolism. What a filmmaker puts on the screen often always represents a deeper message. What that deeper message says, however, is up to the viewer’s interpretation.
That is why Amelia Moses’ directorial debut Bleed With Me is so special. The psychological horror film, which is part of Nightstream’s 2020 inaugural lineup, is a simple premise that is not only enhanced by its usage of symbolism, but uses said symbolism as the glue that holds the entire film together.
Clocking in at a comfortable 79 minutes, Bleed With Me centers around two friends, Rowan (Lee Marshall) and Emily (Lauren Beatty), who retreat to Emily’s family cabin for the weekend. Joined by Emily’s boyfriend Brendan (Aris Tyros), Rowan begins experiencing strange hallucinations that lead her to believe her friend is trying to steal her blood. Not only are all three actors believable and likable in their roles, but the fact that the cast is so condensed adds to the feeling of paranoia the film pulls off so well.
The film’s main setting, the family cabin, is located in near-total seclusion in the snow-covered terrain. This confided feeling is omnipresent throughout Bleed With Me and shows that everything, from the small cast to the set design, symbolizes Rowan’s feeling of being trapped. This makes it easy for the audience to start questioning their own beliefs and surroundings. The viewer is just as trapped as Rowan is because there is nothing else beyond the snowstorm that encapsulates the woods. Both Rowan and the audience have no choice but to stay in the cabin, where they do not understand what exactly is happening behind closed doors.
This symbolism of being trapped, whether it is represented in the way Rowan paces in the bathroom or the gazes she gives Emily that last longer than expected, is a constant throughout Bleed With Me. This is ultimately the film’s strongest point, as its ambiguous ending leaves questions that the audience will think about long after it concludes.
Perhaps the only thing that is preventing the film from being great is the script. The actors, especially Marshall who is fantastic as the paranoid and nervous Rowan, all sell their roles. Unfortunately, some pieces of dialogue ultimately felt too on the nose to really be believable. When Rowan shows apprehension towards Emily in one scene, the latter asks her, “You don’t trust me? I’m your friend.” However, this does not happen often in the film and it does not take viewers out of the film’s immersion for too long.
Moses is definitely a filmmaker to watch out for, as Bleed With Me is an absolute delight to watch. If you are looking for a suspenseful and engaging horror film that will keep you guessing until the very end, look no further.
