![](https://www.grimoireofhorror.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/maxresdefault-1.jpg)
I am all for horror that takes a new direction to its approach! With so many films using the same played-out premise with an interchangeable villain, I am happy to dive into a film that seems to alter that predictable formula. That was my first impression of Bliss, seeing scenes soaked in colour and being unsure on its premise. I was excited to finally sit down and see what this film had to offer and was not disappointed. Written and directed by Joe Begos, who directed Almost Human (2013) and VFW (2019) and released by Dark Sky Films.
What Is It?
The film follows brilliant but struggling artist Dezzy, who has lost her inspiration and is days away from being evicted. Dropped by her agent, she falls into an old habit of abusing drugs in an attempt to finish her masterpiece. This inspiration spirals into a psychedelic hellscape of sex, drugs, and murder in the seedy underbelly of L.A.
What Worked?
The film is visually stunning, with amazing use of colour throughout and beautiful cinematography, creating a disorientation trip that mimics the main character is experiencing. The camera work is smooth yet unusual, relying on strange panning camera angles and movement to disorientate rather than an uncomfortable, disjointed approach. The soundtrack by Steve Moore is a perfect balance of modern rock and synth-heavy ambient terror, fitting for an hour and twenty-minute acid trip of a film like this.
The horror in Bliss is slow-building and sporadic in its use during the first and second acts, causing the viewer to be unsure if what they had just seen actually happened or whether it was a drug-induced hallucination. This leads to a similar sense of paranoia as Dezzy awakens on her apartment floor in a daze, struggling to piece together the night before.
What Didn’t Work
The character Dezzy is well played by Dora Maddison but the character of Dezzy herself is obnoxious and highly unlikeable, inadvertently ausing a lot of negativity towards the film itself. Having spent the younger years of my life living a bohemian lifestyle, living with artist of all different types in London, I can safely say that I have met that type of person far too many times and Dora’s performance mimics their attitude and sensibility effectively. However, for a main character, this does bring up the problem that an audience is not going to care what happens to an unlikeable character.
Where Can I Find It?
Bliss is available to stream via Shudder, Amazon prime, Youtube and Google Play store. Copies on DVD and Blu-Ray are available as well.
Overall Thoughts?
I personally enjoyed this film: a beautiful, colour-drenched, drug-fuelled descent into madness. The film is best enjoyed like a hallucinogen, swallow it, sit back, enjoy the ride, and let it wash over you. With influences from classic filmmakers such Lucio Fulci, Gaspar Noé, and Abel Ferrara; it truly is a feast for the eyes as a visual spectacle. If you can get past the somewhat unlikeable main character, this film is definitely worth your time. It does not deserve the bad press it has gotten.
More Film Reviews:
Last Night In Soho Film Review (2021) – Music, Fashion And Mass-murder
With Last Night in Soho, Edgar Wright’s latest film, the British filmmaker continues down the path he’s carved with his 2017 ‘Baby Driver‘ – mixing different genres into an extremely…
Punch (2023) Film Review – Seaside Slasher Shirks Success
An unassuming seaside town in southern England is thwacked, whomped, and clobbered by the resurgence of an enigmatic, squeaky-voiced, no-nonsense killer who brandishes a club to brutally execute his victims….
Mexico Barbaro II (2017) Film Review – A Grisly Romp South of the Boarder
Mexico Barbaro II is a 2017 horror anthology film, with segments written and directed by Diego Cohen, Christian Cueva, Ricardo Farias, Adrian Garcia Bogliano, Michelle Garza Cervera, Carlos Meléndez, Alfredo…
Tezuka’s Barbara (2019) Movie Review – A Nuanced Portrait of Decadence and Obsession
“There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.” -Friedrich Nietzche Last year, cinema fans worldwide were able to engage and appreciate the…
Disappear Completely (2022) Film Review – The Horror of Losing Oneself
Santiago Mendoza (Harold Torres) is a successful tabloid crime photographer in Mexico City, who has developed a hard exterior in order to deal with the extreme violence he photographs. One…
Dark Glasses (2022) Film Review – Dario Argento’s Comeback
So, has Dario Argento finally made a real comeback? Is it any good? Yes, he has, and yes it is. Just in case you don’t know with whom we are…
![Jim Cox Profile Pic](https://www.grimoireofhorror.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/new.jpg)
Hey there, I’m Jim and I’m located in London, UK. I am a Writer and Managing Director here at Grimoire of Horror. A lifelong love of horror and writing has led me down this rabbit hole, allowing me to meet many amazing people and experience some truly original artwork. I specialise in world cinema, manga/graphic novels, and video games but will sometime traverse into the unknown in search of adventure.