Bloodline (2018)

Directed by: Henry Jacobson | 95 minutes | crime, horror | Actors: Seann William Scott, Mariela Garriga, Dale Dickey, Christie Herring, Raymond Alexander Cham Jr., Nick Boraine, Kevin Carroll, Sean H. Scully, Matthew Bellows, Leith M. Burke, Hudson West, Dusty Sorg, Cassandra Ballard, Larsen Thompson, Hira Ambrosino

Is typecasting a blessing or a curse? It can be lucrative for an actor to play the same role over and over – which he is good at. Take Sean William Scott for example. This man played an oversexed guy countless times in the ‘American Pie’ franchise. His Stiffler became an iconic character. After his breakthrough, this American decided to play several such roles, because he was simply asked to do so. Now that the popularity of the aforementioned franchise has fallen, it’s time for some news. Enter ‘Bloodline’. In this horror/thriller Scott doesn’t play a horny joker, but an ice-cold killer. It is a role that he does surprisingly well.

‘Bloodline’ revolves around Evan Cole (Scott). This man seems to be doing well. He is married to a lovely woman, recently fathered a healthy son and works as a social worker at a school. To the outside world, Evan seems like a loving, somewhat dull middle-class man, but the truth is different. In his spare time, this new father kills people who, in his eyes, are evil and who do not share his standards and values.

Scott is very strong in ‘Bloodline’ and puts down an ice cold and emotionless killer. You see a killer acting that he is a good person. Scott’s casting was a no-brainer, but he deserved a better script. Evan is not a likeable character, although his motivations are somewhat understandable. He may be more sympathetic than his victims, but the fact is that you watch annoying characters for a long time. A somewhat smoother plot, a more compact playing time and more murders could have softened this shortcoming. In its current form ‘Bloodline’ is at times too long-winded.

The massacres in ‘Bloodline’ are intense. Certainly by ‘Blumhouse’ standards, the American production company that almost single-handedly keeps the horror genre in Hollywood alive. Frontal female nudity and uncompromising stabbings: you don’t expect it in a commercial title like this. The special effects look pretty gross and the violence is clearly portrayed. No matter how good the acting and special effects are, you won’t get very far without an appealing plot. In that respect, this film is mediocre. The thin story just too often drifts aimlessly on. Unfortunate. Tight enough.