Blood For Flesh (Sangre Para la Carne) Review from TetroVideo!
AKA: Sangre Para la Carne
Directed by: Alex Hernandez
Written by: Alex Hernandez
Produced by: Porfirio Palacious
Cinematography by: Dante Belmont
Editing by: Baco Sosa
Music by: Esteban Ibarra Rivero
Cast: Erika Lopez, Luis Navarro, Juan Manuel Martinez, Christian Camara
Year: 2019
Country: Mexico.
Language: Spanish
Color: Color/ Tinted
Runtime: 56mins
Distributor: TetroVideo
Images and the sounds you hear — two very important factors when viewing an artistic or surreal work of film regardless of its origins or age. From Luis Bunuel to Alejandro Jodorowsky, the richness and sometimes the stillness of the scenes can captivate and make you think deeply into what the meaning could be.
In the realms of the senses you also get the films Begotten, and Befouled, both reviewed on Severed and equally as intimidating for anybody who steps in unknowing what to expect. All film is an art form to a degree, all are created piece by piece, yet some truly feel like a painting. Take 2009’s Valhalla Rising, a lot of minutes are spent practically static, but wherein meanwhile the mood and backdrops engross the viewer. Blood for Flesh goes for the jugular as we hear a mother reject her new-born baby whilst giving birth.
We watch as a lady wakes up out in the open. Her eyes blink as she seems to remember something – painted tribal men hold her semi naked, upside-down, screaming. Dirty and bloodied, she stands erect in the grass and stares ahead. Suddenly the screen is tinted sickly washed out red, and a severed pigs head is being hacked into.
Whilst staring some more, a middle aged man arrives and hugs her. They eat, and afterwards she has another flashback, so attacks him, as seen by her younger brother. Then she hacks some more at the poor pigs head whilst her brother speaks to her, then tries kissing her. “No, I’m your sister.” she states.
Sitting naked on a battered cardboard box, a gory head inside the said box seems to lick out her privates as she grinds and pants. Onwards as more of what has been before is revealed. Around a fire, painted cannibals wander. Her brother has his pants pulled down and he is buggered, she is also molested, raped, etcetera, all in a brief chapter called GOD IS WATCHING as we see a face of God with its eyes crossed out. Very nice touch. Moving on, we see more assaults and trauma delivered unto her. Yeah, she certainly suffered the most.
What does it all mean? Well, it takes an eternity before even the smallest dark corner starts to lighten up and reveal any semblance of story. More on that issue soon.
Director and writer, Alex Hernandez is a very young lad, and he’s accomplished a tremendous victory in this feature. He has studied past masters then brought his own twists and sweetness. Dividing down everything into chapters, such as ‘The Domain of the Primitive Beast’, ‘Without Mercy’ and so on, the film is a very adult and blood splashed ride.
The soundtrack is very minimal with noises such as winds, eerie tingles and so on. Aside from moments of startling crescendos of madness, the low-key ideas really play a huge significant part to proceedings. Erika Lopez and the cast feed off the grainy gritty filthy madness, wallowing in pain and blood endlessly.
If I’m totally honest, there were points in Blood for Flesh where I struggled against the style. At times it feels like it’s trying too hard, and there isn’t a natural creative flow which is consistent. I grew rather annoyed in parts, feeling by about the halfway point and a castration, there was becoming a trend not to at least give out one cautious spoonful of plot so to make you sit up and say, “Ahh, I see, that bit makes sense.” Observers of this kind of creation aren’t stupid and can be very patient if pulled in the correct way. As I said, scenes grind now and then, just existing to either shock or just be out of sequence. However, I cannot take anything away from the beautiful and very intense images which wrap around you throughout.
Domiziano Cristopharo and TetroVideo have taken this little monster into their home and have released it courtesy of a limited edition Book Box accompanied by a poster.
