Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Blood Hook Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 14, 2018

Horror hits the bait shop in 1987’s “Blood Hook,” which provides a most unusual setting for its unfolding nightmare: the North Woods of Wisconsin. The contrast of nature’s serenity and sliced and dice gore is the driving force behind the picture, which is something of a spoof of slasher cinema, but not really, with director Jim Mallon playing most of this cheerily but not jokingly. It’s not a movie that’s concerned with providing scares, having more fun working out the details of the kills and it remains utterly devoted to characterization, with a host of personalities competing for screen time. In fact, the most chilling aspect of the effort is its run time of 111 minutes, which is far too long for something this light, but the trade-off is vivid comprehension of emotional concerns and regional oddity, with Mallon making sure everyone who shows up for the slaughter gets a moment or five to detail their troubled existence.

Peter (Mark Jacobs) is traveling with girlfriend Ann (Lisa Todd) and pals Rodney (Patrick Danz), Kiersten (Sara Hauser), and Finner (Christopher Whiting), making their way to northern Wisconsin to claim a lakeside house willed to him by his late grandfather, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances long ago. The trip is timed to enjoy the local “Muskie Madness” fishing competition, with everyone angling for the biggest catch, but the outsiders are more interested in making fun of the locals, including old coot Wayne (Paul Drake), lunatic Evelyn (Bill Lowrie), and bait shop owner Leroy (Don Winters), who’s dealing patiently with clueless, demanding tourists. As the battle for control of the lake’s bounty begins, another fisherman is on the loose, using an oversized lure to tear victims apart, dragging them into the lake before they meet their gruesome end.

The most exciting aspect of “Blood Hook” is its specific location, taking audiences to the wonders of rural Wisconsin, where a gigantic Muskie statue welcomes all to the fishing oasis. There’s business to accomplish for Peter, but that doesn’t stop the competition, with the race to land the largest fish running throughout the story, giving the characters something unique to do before some of them are offed by a mysterious serial killer using fishing tools to take down victims. Mallon (who would go on to be involved with “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” voicing Gypsy in the original series) embraces his surroundings, creating an evocative chiller that enjoys the open water and small town life, with Peter and the gang bewildered by all the sincerity they encounter. “Blood Hook” has its issues, but the setting is gorgeous, with impressively low-fi cinematography by Marsha Kahm bringing out the flavors of nature and isolation, giving the picture some distinction before it returns to slasher formula.

There’s no doubt that “Blood Hook” is goofy. Any film with a soundtrack that includes the song “Muskie Reggae” is clearly open to silliness. But Mallon isn’t making a horror version of “Airplane,” keeping wackiness on the back burner for most of the movie, focusing on personality quirks and local color (setting some type of record for most loon references), eventually getting around to gore zone visits, which offer some bite, repeatedly showcasing the physical damage caused by the gigantic lure. However, most of “Blood Hook” is focused on relationships, with town antagonisms and visitor romances taking center stage here, giving the actors plenty to do. It’s not an especially satisfying dramatic journey, but there’s an extraordinary amount of time spent with the participants as they fish, argue, and fret about family business. 111 minutes of these relationships is far too much to take at times, with the picture ripe for a tighter edit, encouraging more momentum than this draggy cut of the movie offers.

Blood Hook Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) presentation on "Blood Hook" is downright gorgeous, sourced from a 2K scan of the 16mm OCN. While the feature has previously enjoyed VHD and DVD popularity, its graduation to Blu-ray is sure to wow the faithful, showcasing a delicious filmic appearance that's bright and confidently grainy, maintaining the raw appeal of the surprisingly appealing cinematography. Colors are superbly refreshed, bringing out bold primaries with costuming, keeping period fashion alert. Town signage is flavorful, along with set decoration, preserving the north woods vibe. Greenery is the real highlight here, offering lush forests and grass, and lakes retain natural hues. Blood pops accordingly. Skintones are spot-on for both humans and fish, which keep their intended color. Delineation remains communicative, even during heavy evening shots. Source is clear and clean, with no major displays of damage.

Blood Hook Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix encounters some mild sibilance issues, but the overall listening experience isn't too troublesome. Dialogue exchanges show their age, but intelligibility is acceptable, delivering emotional exchanges and Midwest accents with clarity. Scoring is supportive, coming through with a synth creep that never intrudes on the action. Soundtrack selections deliver satisfying instrumentation, giving the film a rock/reggae lift at times. Sound effects are passably defined, offering louder acts of violence, and the cicada threat is persistent, swarming heavily throughout most of the movie.

Blood Hook Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (30:01, HD) with director Jim Mallon explores his early interest in filmmaking, shooting little projects as a kid before graduating to more substantial visions while in high school. The origin tale of "Blood Hook" is recalled, with Mallon and producer David Herbert working to entice investors in Minneapolis, finally collecting $200,000 to make the picture, only to neglect writing issues, with the phone book-thick script in need of sizable cuts at the last minute. Locations are recalled, with the production using multiple lakes, also dealing with cast and crew quirks and community interest. Always short on time and funds, Mallon seems amazed "Blood Hook" came together at all, admitting the feature was crudely designed and executed. He also discusses his lack of a directorial career when the movie was sold, soon taking a production manager position at a Minneapolis UHF station, eventually producing "Mystery Science Theater 3000."

• Interview (18:42, HD) with actress Lisa Todd is a little short on details, as she doesn't recall much of the "Blood Hook" shooting experience, which occurred 33 years ago. Todd details her casting process, which required a scream test while wearing a swimsuit, and shares memories of the locations, which provides a summer camp-like vibe. She's kind about co-stars, but does admit that she wasn't on speaking terms with star Marc Jacobs throughout filming. Todd was also present for the sale of "Blood Hook" to Troma, though why isn't made clear.

• Interview (23:11, HD) with F/X artist Jim Suthers covers his childhood obsession with make-up work, turning him into a "monster kid" who grew up to work on horror pictures, including a few from director Bill Rebane. Suthers examines tech challenges with "Blood Hook," trying to pull off memorable gore shots with limited funds, and shares the nuances of creating and cleaning up fake blood. He also shares an anecdote concerning his dealings with local cops interested in the horror make-up business.

• Interview (29:28) is an audio-only discussion of "Blood Hook" visual achievements with cinematographer Marsha Kahm.

• Still Gallery (:48) contains continuity photos, script pages, and art from a soundtrack cassette release of some sort.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:29, HD) is included.

Blood Hook Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It goes on for far too long, but there are plenty of highlights in "Blood Hook," which delivers all the Wisconsin atmosphere one can handle, while providing a few cheap thrills along the way, highlighting unusual deaths in the middle of fish country. Mallon doesn't supply a carnival atmosphere, but he's good with select offerings of comedy and tone, enjoying the genre without completely pantsing it. It's a fun movie, but 111 minutes of it is overkill.