The found footage subgenre lends itself effortlessly to horror films, with its technological realism immersing viewers right into the centre of the terror the protagonists experience. From The Blair Witch Project through to Paranormal Activity, Incantation, REC, Creep, and V/H/S, the found footage genre has brought us some of horror's most iconic moments. But it has become a somewhat oversaturated genre, with new titles struggling to carve out a legacy of their own among such huge names. But one that might do just that is impossibly twisty mockumentary In Our Blood, which enjoyed its UK premiere at FrightFest Glasgow.
Directed by Lead Me Home and Rebel Hearts‘ Pedro Kos, In Our Blood follows filmmaker Emily Wyland (Brittany O'Grady) who teams up with cinematographer Danny Martinez (E.J. Bonilla) to shoot an emotional documentary about Emily's reunion with her estranged mother Sam (Alanna Ubach). Emily left her mother's care when she was around 13 years old after Sam battled with addiction issues, with them regaining contact after Sam went sober. But after Emily and Danny travel from Los Angeles to New Mexico for the reunion, Sam goes missing, with the duo finding increasingly sinister clues during their investigation into her disappearance.
The emotionally-wrought film sensitively deals with addiction and how it can tear families apart, with Emily and Danny bonding over their personal tragedies at the hands of substance abuse and Sam tearfully apologising for how her vices affected her parenting during Emily's formative years. In Our Blood also touches on the stark and horrifying reality of the disappearance of transient people across the globe, as it is revealed hundreds of people have gone missing in the small New Mexico town Sam lives in and yet authorities have done nothing about it. It seems almost too chilling to believe, and yet various studies have found homeless people to be an ‘invisible group' when it comes to missing person statistics as their disappearances are rarely, if ever, reported. Through Danny's storyline, we also learn about gang culture in New Mexico with the former gang member having to cover his tattoos for fear of the police not taking his and Emily's plight seriously.
In Our Blood's horror stylings are kept under wraps for much of the film's runtime in favour of detective thriller tropes as Emily and Danny uncover what details they can about Sam's life from her support worker Ana (Krisha Fairchild), friend Isaac (Steven Klein), and those she knows who have battled addiction. The found footage format works to uncover what details we need to know about the characters without the information feeling forced through interviews needed to add colour to the documentary. With each strange revelation, the mystery deepens and the tension ramps up to almost unbearable levels which, coupled with the gruesome threats seemingly levied toward Emily and Danny, adds a palpable sense of dread that runs throughout the film.
This dread turns into full-blown terror by the film's final act which transforms the genre of In Our Blood and becomes a memorable addition to the much-loved horror subgenre it reveals itself to be part of. Though the film could have benefitted from a fuller explanation of its genre elements, powerhouse performances from the likes of O'Grady, Bonilla, and Fairchild grip audiences by the throat and add harrowing depth to the intriguing narrative. From start to finish, In Our Blood is a tragic look at the depths of addiction and vulnerable people who slip through the cracks when they need society's help the most, culminating in a truly shocking end that elevates the eerie mockumentary to terrifying heights.
In Our Blood had its European premiere at FrightFest Glasgow on 7 March
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