Customer Reviews

Blood and Donuts [VHS]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just bought this movie used for 3 bucks because from the cover, it looked like a hoot. However, I was plesantly suprised by the excellent storyline, acting, and dialoge. The movie is very interesting to me particularly because it seems somehow very plausible, despite the fantasy premise. The ending, the characters- it all felt right. What can I say? If yu are a fan of really quality cinema, this is certainly worth at least a rental, and then a buy.

They say that there is nothing new under the sun, that everything is simply a retread of ideas that have gone before, just the same old thing merely dressed up in different clothes and coiffed appropriately to meet a younger generation's standards. Well I'm here to tell you that just ain't true because I am the proud owner of a 13 year old vampire film from Canada that even if these post Lestat, post Buffy days still brings to the table an impressive amount of intelligence, wit, style, humor, and grace. It bears the unlikely title BLOOD AND DONUTS, and it has made of me a true believer in the existence of creative filmmakers. Yes, Virginia, they still exist! Even today this film still feels fresh..

The film begins with footage of the lunar landing in 1969--that's when Boya decided to crawl into a burlap bag and go to sleep for what turned out to be 25 years. He is only awakened by chance when a freak accident involving an errant golf ball during the film's openning credits sets off a chain of events in his lair that would have made Rube Goldberg proud. His awakening is immediately sensed by a beautician named Rita who bears the slight marks of his fangs on her neck. After Boya gets the considerable kinks out of his assorted body parts that 25 years in a burlap sack tend to leave one with, he sets off carrying a shovel--looking for food perhaps? He catches a ride to the Westview Cemetery with a cabbie named Earl, a garrulous but likeable fellow who can't help but notice his passenger's tears and, wanting to make him feel better, says he could never trust a man who couldn't cry and then launches into a long sad story about his dearly departed dog. But Boya's left the cab and has sought out a particular grave to excavate. What, or perhaps who, is buried there? A long lost lover to re-animate possibly? Nope, just his personal belongings which include the prerequiste sharp leather coat and an album full of old photographs to which he tenderly adds another, a picture of a pretty blond, using his own blood as an adhesive.

You're probably wondering how the donuts enter into the film about now, right? Well after Boya finds himself a place to crash, a seedy hotel with an ample supply of rats in the walls, he ventures out again looking for an all-night market where he might buy some very fresh liver. But alas the neighborhood has really changed and he's hopelessly lost. He drops into the donut shop for directions and instantly becomes entranced by young Molly who works the counter. The donut shop is a haven of sorts in this very shabby neighborhood. Its owner believes that everyone deserves the right to be able to eat a donut and have a safe place to eat it in. While he sits in the shop staring at her, Earl the cabbie comes in, he's desperately tring to avoid some thugs who have been after him but they just happen to catch up with him while Boya is there which is bad news for them. After the beat down, Boya offers his room as a sanctuary to Earl, and Earl gladly accepts, although after awhile he starts to regret that decision as he begins to notice some rather strange things about his host. His habit of sleeping in the closet during the day seemed odd in retrospect, but it was that big gaping wound in Boya's chest that didn't seem to faze him at all that really upset Earl.

I'm not going to do much more in the way of a plot synopsis here simply because I don't want to spoil a moment of this film for anyone who has the curiosity to go out and hunt it down. Its very special. You've already met all of the primary characters with the exception of the "Crime Boss" who is played by David Cronenberg in a thoroughly delightful cameo role. And doing a plot synopsis would never do this film justice anyhow. Oh, you'd know the story, but that's all. Its a fairly original story too. I could also spill my guts and tell you all the many reasons why this film is so special and give you examples, but again, then you wouldn't need to see the film would you? Let's see if I can talk about it and NOT give anything away.

There is very little violence in this film, which considering Cronenberg is rumored to have had a hand either in backing it or in otherwise supporting it, is interesting. What violence there is comes primarily at the film's end. The sex scene is conducted with the paticipants being in two different buildings and its the guy who is in the bathtub and the chick who is fully clothed. The vampire transformation is extremely well done and perfects the technique and style used in BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and does it even slicker--however, it is only used twice. There is only one death in the entire film. Having said all of this I just realized that I have turned off every single member of this film's potential audience. Oops.

But for those of us who know that there can be more to a genre film than sex and violence (if only for a change of pace every now and then) BLOOD AND DONUTS offers the perfect alternative. For starters its an extremely well written film. Andrew Rai Berzins has given us fully realized, flesh and blood human beings (even the undead ones) that we can actually care about and empathize with and laugh WITH rather than AT. Released in 1995, BLOOD AND DONUTS went on to be nominated for Best Screenplay in the Genie Awards, Canada's equivalent of the Oscars, which is quite a testimonial for any low budget horror film. Director Holly Dale has also managed quite a feat, she's taken what in lesser hands might have been a genre film awkwardly attempting to be something else and turned it into a film that managed to succeed on both levels completely. The talented cast helps out enormously with Gordon Currie as the enigmatic/romantic Boya doing most of the heavy lifting with a graceful, comedic ease. Everyone else is also worthy of mention; Justin Louis as the cabbie, Helene Clarkson as the less than glamorous Molly, and Fiona Reid as the wannabe vampire Rita. Photography and lighting are moody but not murky, and once again I must comment on the music, something I rarely do. In addition to the regular score which is effective, they've chosen old pop songs such as "Twilight Time" by the Platters, "I Put a Spell On You" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, as well as versions of "Mr. Sandman" and "Blue Moon" all of which add enormously to the film even though none of them dates to the era when Boya crawled into his burlap sack.

Do yourself a favor. If you like something a bit off the beaten track, if you don't mind a virtually bloodless vampire film, if films like FIDO strike you as something the world really needs more of, track down a copy of BLOOD AND DONUTS. And sit through the credits for one final scene.

Sorry, but it's true. Wow! was this off the wall or what. Great
characters, great story line. A vampire flick like you have never
seen. I had my finger on the power button of my tv remote for the first 20 minutes of the movie. Somehow I just couldn't bring myself to kill the power. Now I have watched this offbeat flick 4 times. Low budget B movie, and yet it blows away other vampire movies such as the Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt ( Interview With The Vampire). No one lives forever!

Buy it, watch it (several times ) just try to get Boya and the others out of your head. You'll be walking around humming the soundtrack for a month.

Not your typical vampire film. A romantic & conflicted vampire awakens after 25 years and encounters some off-beat, but realistic characters, each with their own foibles and circumstances that are each affected by his presence. Without the vampire, this film would've been different but just as interesting because of the characters that populate it. This movie is, strange to say, almost heartwarming. Well plotted & executed. Fantastic.

BLOOD & DONUTS is a hidden gem. Canadian-made, it didn't benefit from any kind of marketing campaign and got lost in the shuffle. But it is very cool, very funny, and just when you think you're watching a little B-movie, the heart of the film leaps out at you...and grabs you by the throat. Shot in 20 days for a half a million Canadian, BLOOD & DONUTS is one of the quirkiest, warmest, and funniest twists on a tired genre ever made. And it's only ten bucks!!!

At first, I thought for sure it was going to be a real BAD horror movie, punctuated by bad acting, poor make-up/special effects and gratuitous violence. What a pleasant surprise! It was a well-acted movie that did not take itself too seriously, and it was alot of fun to watch! What a great sense of humor!

I always prescreen the vampire movies I purchase before sharing them with my husband. He's not a vampire aficionado like me. I was only about five minutes into this one when I just knew my husband was going to have to see this one. I think it was Boya cracking his joints immediately following his rather unexpected, abrupt awakening. The half-serious, half-for-laughs nature of this movie reminded me of another favorite vampire film, 'Nightlife'. Gordon Currie does an excellent job of portraying the vampire, Boya, as mysterious, dangerous, unpredictable, quirky, enthralling, tender, and sexy -- all rolled into one handsome, albeit slightly frowzy package. Maybe those reviewers who didn't like 'Blood and Donuts' were looking for more 'blood and guts'.

When I first watched this movie, it was because of the title. It was on cable, and I was channel surfing away, and stumbled upon it, and wondered about the "Blood", and why it was paired with "Donuts". I started watching it, and was so glad I did. This under-rated, under-appreciated movie is just so fun to watch, and actually leaves you with a warm feeling.

I loved the bonding of Boya and his ever-so-human friends. The people, their lives, the problems they face, and the compassion for humanity is all exposed in such a funny, yet plausible manner. Gone is the blood lust, and gore of most vamp flicks, and instead, you are given a well written, well portrayed, well balanced mixture of life at its seediest, with just a touch of hope.

Well worthy of a viewing. It definately became a cult classic of mine.

The characters in this movie are so off beat and interesting that it's one of my favorite movies. I can watch it over and over. Truly a delightful classic.

I found this movie extremely entertaining. It was funny and had a strange creepiness to it. Though more of a humorous, than scary movie. It's lots of weird fun. Some of the reviews I read, obviously took it too seriously. I thought it worth watching, with tongue in cheek and an eye for the artsy.