Pale Blood Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Pale Blood Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 10, 2020

With vampire entertainment going in all sorts of directions during the 1980s, 1990’s “Pale Blood” makes a decision to remain at arm’s length from the competition. Screenwriters Takashi Matsuoka and V.V. Dachin Hsu (who also directs) return to familiar stomping grounds with their vision of trouble within the L.A. nightlife scene, but they provide a different examination of vampire mythos and madness with their endeavor, which aims to be more of a psychological take on troubles involving the creatures of the night. “Pale Blood” offers an interesting first half, dealing with world-building and characterization, which is almost enough to support the entire viewing experience, as the production has difficulty sustaining mystery and excitement from start to finish.

Arriving in Los Angeles, Michael (George Chakiris) is a monster looking to solve the “vampire murder” crimes, endeavoring to infiltrate the local scene and figure out who’s killing young things in the big city, draining their blood and leaving puncture wounds. A bloodsucker himself, Michael tries to keep a low profile as he begins his investigation, joined by Lori (Pamela Ludwig), a private detective who’s obsessed with vampires, unwilling to leave Michael alone. Van (Wings Hauser) is an erotic video artist with an extensive history of paranoid behavior, also on the prowl to capture evidence of a vampire on the loose, taking special interest in model Jenny (Diana Frank), a young woman who becomes Michael’s first feeding in town.

“Pale Blood” is Hsu’s directorial debut, and she seems eager to prove herself with the feature, attempting to offer a stylish understanding of Michael’s visit to town, with the older vampire keeping cool as he observes crime scenes and hits up the local club, finding an especially eager partner in Jenny. Cinematography by Gerry Lively tries to deliver an immersive, colorful understanding of Michael’s powers and shadowy ways, giving the endeavor some sense of low-budget creep as it strives to fashion a conflict between Michael the visitor and Van the crazed local, with the two sides sniffing each other out as a murderer takes lives.

Van is a strange guy. He’s a character who’s tasted the saltiness of insanity on a few occasions, currently funneling his intensity into video production, making tapes of women holding eggs behind their knees. He’s not well, but Van is a crazy loner in a city full of them, with Michael also stalking the night, doing his best to refuses advances from Lori, who understands exactly what type of creature he is, hounding him for attention, hoping to join his kind with a single bite. The screenplay makes moves to avoid traditional vampire cinema gameplay, making Michael dismissive of lore, doing his own thing as he stays out of the sunlight and drinks blood to live, not to kill. It’s here where the tale is most inventive, staying away from mass hysteria to toy with a murder mystery and a travelogue of sorts, following the visitor as he explores a crowded (and noise polluted) Los Angeles, with Hsu giving plenty of screen time to local bands and street life, offering a snapshot of the world as it was in 1989. And for Sybil Danning fans, the cult heroine appears in “Pale Blood” for a single shot, with no explanation offered for her appearance.

Pale Blood Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a new 2K scan of the 35mm interpositive, which offers freshness for such an obscure title. "Pale Blood" looks impressive on Blu-ray, with the cooler palette handled with ideal delineation, while hues with the vampire world are compelling, keeping to blues and blacks, while white skin pops as intended. Colors are brighter elsewhere, with deep reds for bloodshed, while period clothing handles with defined pinks and greens. Nightlife is also a highlight, as lighting and signage are vivid. Detail is excellent, permitting a scan of facial particulars, which showcase signs of aging and makeup efforts. Costuming is fibrous, from heavier, woolen wear on the men, while Jenny's introduction involves a shiny pleather dress. Distances are clear, allowing for a survey of L.A. locations. Grain is heavy but film-like. Source is in strong shape.

Pale Blood Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix supplies a louder listening event, keeping dialogue exchanges pronounced throughout, with a few mild sibilance issues. Performances are intelligible and comfortably excitable. Scoring is defined with a heavy synth presence, delivering suspense stings and mild support when necessary. The track offers a wider frontal experience, doing well with city atmospherics and room tone, along with physical encounters. There's strangeness from time to time, especially around the 49:00 mark, which works through a few brief audio dropouts, though with this extremely low-tech production, perhaps these moments are inherent to the mix.

Pale Blood Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Acting with Eggs" (7:30, HD) is a conversation with Darcy DeMoss, with the actress admitting she endured an eight month wait to hear about a job in "Pale Blood" after her audition. The interviewee explores her relationship with director V.V. Dachin Hsu and shares finer points concerning her character, even though she didn't quite understand everything about the script. DeMoss highlights her working relationship with her co-stars, with special emphasis on Wings Hauser, sharing comfort with the actor after a previous collaboration. She also details a recent reunion with cinematographer Gerry Lively, unable to place the man at first. Celebrating the style of "Pale Blood," DeMoss seems immensely proud of the feature, sharing her favorite scenes and personal connection to the endeavor.

• "Understanding Immortality" (15:22, HD) is an interview with V.V. Dachin Hsu, who talks about her legal name change, now going by Jenny Funkmeyer to celebrate her personal growth. The interviewee details her upbringing, going from Hong Kong to L.A., where she enrolled in the U.C.L.A. Film School. Right out of the gate, Funkmeyer went hunting for work, eventually meeting producer Omar Kaczmarczyk, scoring a chance to direct her first movie. Exploring "Pale Blood," Funkmeyer examines character motivation and moral journeys, while professionally, she sought advice from John Huston, who presented an important directorial lesson. Cast members are celebrated, including Wings Hauser, who provided unique energy and professionalism on set. Cast camaraderie was high as well. Funkmeyer closes with her excitement concerning the "Pale Blood" experience, and her renewed delight in connecting with all sorts of new viewers. Her enthusiasm here is wonderful to see.

• A Trailer has not been included.

Pale Blood Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Pale Blood" complicates matters with a psychic connection between Michael and Lori, giving their relationship a supernatural edge that's meant to add a wow factor to the tale, but remains confusing, not explored in full. There's also a graphic third act to give the endeavor a genre push, but it doesn't take, finding the second half of the movie missing the intriguing introductions of the first half. And there's Hauser, who overacts like a maniac here, trying desperately to own every scene with wild gesturing and non-stop speaking, narrating Van's every move. The rest of the cast is actively trying to underplay their parts, but Hauser didn't get the memo, contributing to a frustrating decline in the feature's quality. It ends with a whimper, but at least "Pale Blood" begins with something of a bang, with Hsu clearly trying to make some dark magic happen with the effort, launching it with the right mix of chills and attitude.