Blood Punch

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Madellaine Paxson directs. Neil Cervin behind the camera. Sean Stack cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Released 12 years ago.
• 2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
• 3Directed by Madellaine Paxson, shot by Neil Cervin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 4Editor Sean Stack shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 5Milo Cawthorne and Olivia Tennet and Ari Boyland carry the top of the cast.
• 6IMDB entry: tt2825230 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography

Neil Cervin

Editing

Sean Stack

Production design

Lauren Stewart

Costume design

Erica Howard

Makeup / hair

Chase Birdsong

VFX supervisor

Michael A. Medlock

Sound

Paul Rowland

Runtime

104 min · 1h 44m

Status

Released

Original language

EN

IMDB

Blood Punch (2014) ↗

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  BLOOD PUNCH -- The First Trailer -- "PLAY ME..."

  Trailer

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Reno2016-12-14
  ★ 8/10

  Caught in a time loop. You won't believe this was made by some first timer. Obviously you would find similarity with films like 'Groundhog Day' and 'Edge of Tomorrow' or even with 'The Deaths of Ian Stone', but the point is what makes this one special. Being a B movie makes one of the advantages, but there's no compromise in quality. In fact, it never required any graphics. Everything was managed so well, since it was 95 per cent minimal cast film and takes place in a single isolated location and its surroundings. So what I meant is this is a small gem. If you ever thought of trying B movie, but hesitated for many reasons, so this is the one to pick, especially if you like thrillers. The story narration has the time loop influence. It opened in a drug rehab centre where a youngster named Milton was approached by a beautiful girl Skyler to cook crystal meth for her. So the same night they two breakout with the help of her boyfriend Russell to the woods where they do what they have come for. But the next morning, Milton sees a big change, particularly by Skyler. He never realises that until another next day. For us, the viewers, this is the part to focus as the turning point in the narration. So the day keeps repeating itself as a 24 hour loop from where it all started, but with a different events every day, like giving another chance not knowing why. So they try to figure it out and in a meanwhile, they fall for each other. When one day they think they got a way out, that brings a new trouble as the solution needs a sacrifice or betrayal. Who choose what or is there any other way that told in the remaining film. "Not a single enemy left. Not a single friend either." This theme really needed to be very smart, because most of the viewers to question the flaws. So in a couple of times I said there it goes one, how could they did miss it. But then they proved me wrong in a few minutes later. The writing was so good. He and the director were usually worked on the children's films, but they surprised us with this little gem. Honestly, they deserve to work on the bigger projects with full freedom to execute their creativity. So I am definitely expecting their next feature film would come soon or maybe a follow-up to this. My advice is for you not to underestimate it after seeing its trailer or the poster, or even reading some bad remarks. Like I said, its not a big production's fancy film, but with its limit, it did try its best to give up-to our expectation. So don't mind the actors, actually they were so cool. I thought the lead girl was Daniella Monet, then later realised she's different. She is the girl who fled the village to Rohan after Orcs attached them in the film LOTR. Now she's all grown up and did great in this. This could be easily called an sci-fi-thriller, but according to the story and the direction of its development, surely it belongs to fantasy-thriller. Whatever, don't go for it thinking it is a horror film, if you are a fan of that genre. Because it merely fits with that. Anyway, it is a very entertaining film, the suspense holds for us a very long with the fine pace of the story narration. It is one of the best among the B movies I had seen so far and overall from the time loop themes. I do recommend it, but for the selected people. 7.5/10

  Read full review ↓
• Dan_Tebasco2017-02-20
  ★ 4/10

  Not tremendously impressive film, it's got it's moments but the comedy is a bit try-hard and juvenile at times... Especially the first 30 minutes or so. Second half is mostly decent though. Can't say much about it without spoiling stuff, acting is... acceptable.

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• BL

  Bluff Road Productions

Key crew

• ProducerEthan Pines
• ProducerFleur Saville
• ProducerFred Schaefer
• MusicAdam Berry
• EditorSean Stack
• Production DesignLauren Stewart
• Art DirectionCari Jacobs
• Costume DesignErica Howard
• Script SupervisorCristina Fanti
• Visual Effects SupervisorMichael A. Medlock
• FoleyOonagh McFall
• FoleyCormac Walsh
• Sound Effects EditorJamie Leipert
• Sound Effects EditorTrevor McCormack
• Sound Effects EditorGraham Patterson
• Sound Re-Recording MixerPaul Rowland
• Makeup ArtistChase Birdsong

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• dark comedy
• woman director

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical2014-02-21· Boomtown Film & Music Festival

Also known as

International titles

• Blood Punch - Und täglich grüßt der TodDE
• BloodpunchGB
• Blood Punch und täglich grüsst der TodDE
• Violencia SangrientaMX