Blood Star will have its UK Premiere at Grimmfest on 6th October (where cast and director will be attending) and will be available on Digital Download from 7th October
One of the staples of the survival horror genre is "highway horror." The long, tumultuous journey of a desperate victim being hounded by a relentless maniac is a timeless narrative in film. "Blood Star", the new thriller from Lawrence Jacomelli, fits right into this mold. The movie follows a young woman, Bobbie (Britni Camacho), who, after a few troubled days, finds herself being stalked by a merciless sheriff, Bilstein (John Schwab), determined to make her his next victim. It's a tense, Hitchhiker-style thriller reminiscent of countless films from the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s. From C. Thomas Howell to Britni Camacho, these long road trips of terror are something we all hope to avoid.
Why do these films work? It's often the strength of the two central characters that keeps viewers engaged. In Blood Star, you feel for both Bobbie and Sheriff Bilstein. However, if there had been a bit more depth or interaction between them, the film could have had more energy. Some scenes fall flat, while others excel, and this inconsistency feels more like a limitation of the genre than a failure of writing or execution. Films like Southbound or The Hills Have Eyes added unique elements like mutants or devil worship to keep the formula fresh. In contrast, Blood Star feels closer to Joy Ride or The Hitchhiker, but with less impact. That said, there are nods to classic highway horror, including the standout Mustang II that Camacho's character drives.
Blood Star sticks to familiar highway horror themes with a few surprises. It’s a straightforward survival thriller that might feel dated for younger audiences, who still appreciate final girls but may want to see them in new settings. Nevertheless, Britni Camacho and John Schwab give solid performances in their roles as characters typical of the genre, making this an enjoyable popcorn horror flick.
Rating: 2.5/5
Blood Star
Director: Lawrence Jacomelli
Writers: Lawrence Jacomelli, George Kelly, Victoria Hinks Taylor
Cast: Britni Camacho, John Schwab, Sydney Brumfield, Travis Lincoln Cox, Felix Merback & Wyomi Reed
Comments