Bloodsucker’s Planet: Written Review

Bloodsucker‘s Planet

Written Review

Welcome everyone, to MyIndie Review Vlog! I am Asaf Angel from MyIndie Productions. Today I’ll be tackling the 2019 sci-fi horror feature Bloodsucker’s Planet, written and directed by U.S. indie filmmaker Mark Beal.

If the title sounds somewhat familiar, no worries, you are not imagining things, as this film is a prequel to Mark’s horror feature Bloodsucker’s Handbook, which we also reviewed in episode 6 earlier in the season.

As recently mentioned, MyIndie Review Vlog is now sponsored by Angerman Distribution – A distribution company devoted to helping independent filmmakers from all around the world get their work out to the viewing public. So thank you, AngerMan, for sticking with us.

Somewhere in the far future, a group of astronauts on a supply mission aboard the space ship Argosy respond to a distress signal coming from Planet Mara, a dark, previously colonized industrial planet, which is now seems to be an abandoned, vermin infested, disease riddled wasteland.

Upon landing and scouting a bit, our astronauts; McDermott, Clarissa, Doc, Paulina and Danvers, portrayed by Allen Menefee, Leni Mex, Jeremy Herrera, Adrienne Dobson and Logan Hooks, are greeted by Mr. Gordon Bartlett, played by Joe Grisaffi, a corporate representative assigned to guard the facilities of the corporation after its initiative was cancelled and the colonists relocated.

Gordon comes off as a peculiar man, being the only Human left on the planet, accompanied only by his android Adrianna, played by Jessica Bell, and what seems to be a talking insect the size of a football. Adrianna has a sweet temperament and a soft spot for romance. She is also on the fast track to obtain self-awareness.

Slowly but inevitably, our astronauts face the grave evil which lurks on Mara, as it is revealed that the dark planet is governed by the Mother Vampire, played by Catalina Querida.

In a 60’s retro style sci-fi film, Mark gives us a fun ride in a story which does not dare pretend to follow realism, but gives theatrical, makeshift depiction of the whole environment.

The only issue I had with the film has to do with certain expectations I had from it, already knowing that it is a prequel before I started viewing. I had hoped for more substance from the story to do with a variety of elements in connection with Bloodsucker’s Handbook, but the connection between the two is more to do with characters and how they came to be rather than a more in-depth connection.

Having said that, it is apparent that a lot of effort and planning went into set design, costumes, SFX, make-up, lighting, FOR the purpose of achieving that retro look and feel. It is easy to assume Mark does not intend to convince us that we are actually seeing a story playing out in deep space, but rather take in the nostalgic signature and enjoy a light-hearted horror film. Judging by the end result, there is no doubt that Mark and his team should be commended for the achievement.

Bloodsucker’s Planet scores 7.5/10 on the Look at Me, I’m a Film Critic scale!

The film will be available via Amazon starting August 30, 2019. Pre-orders are available now. Link included.

Bloodsucker’s Planet is enjoying a successful festival tun, receiving SIX award nominations at GenreBlast Film Festival, which will take place early September. The nominations include Best Visual Effects, Best Song, Best Score, Best Hero, Best Villain and Best OnScreen Duo.

The film will also be screening at Northeast Wisconsin Horror Film Festival in mid October.

Thank you again to Angerman Distribution for sponsoring our show!

If you’d like to catch-up on our past reviews you can find them all on our website, as well as our reviews AND promos on our recently launched MyIndie Review Vlog Vimeo channel. Link included.

Until next time, keep supporting indie film. Watch, share, spread the word, my name is Asaf Angel, I thank you for tuning in to MyIndie Review Vlog. I’ll see you next Thursday!