Directed by Bucky Le Boeuf and Cooper Roberts, All You Need is Blood finds an aspiring auteur tasked with making a horror film. Bucky (Logan Riley Bruner) has dreams of becoming the next arthouse directing sensation. The problem is that the industry in his small town is lacking. When he hears about a local film contest, he and best friend Vish (Neel Sethi) dive in. The problem however, is that the film has to be a horror story and Bucky faints at the sight of blood. The duo hit the jackpot when they stumble across the start of the zombie apocalypse, but can Bucky make it artsy enough?
With the main character named after Bucky, there is obviously a strong vein of biographical content to All You Need is Blood. Granted, it’s unlikely that anyone he grew up with ever turned into a zombie, but the film is a clear love letter to his time as a young struggling filmmaker. In many ways, All You Need is Blood could be viewed as a bloodier American spin on Son of Rambow. Both films highlight the stress and joy’s of independent filmmaking. The two also share the same big heart and passion.
As great as All You Need is Blood is at championing the guerilla spirit and community of film, it does have some issues. Firstly, the tone isn’t handled as well here as in Son of Rambow; it takes a little while to find its feet and settle. Then it goes on for too long. A stronger hand during the editing process was needed as the pacing is off kilter. In places it really sags and in others it races along, but it leaves the audience either on the verge of sleep, or racing to keep up. All You Need is Blood also suffers heavily from too many endings. For the whole final act, the film feels as though it is about to end, but never does. It becomes frustrating, and as inventive as the gore gags get during this section, boredom still creeps in.
A valiant first feature, All You Need is Blood wears its bloody beating heart on its sleeve. Its spirit is enough to win over the viewer, but some of the journey will test your patience.
All You Need is Blood
Summary
A fun analysis of the trauma and triumph of creating art, All You Need is Blood has a lot of heart, but not quite the heft to fully succeed.
All You Need is Blood was reviewed at Celluloid Screams 2023.
