'Blood Shine' Review: Cult Imagery and Slow-Burn Horror That Mesmerizes
- Becca Johnson
- 1 minute ago
- 3 min read
By Becca Johnson - August 24, 2025
Directed by lead actress Emily Bennett (Shelby Oaks) and Justin Brooks (Alone With You), Blood Shine is a horror movie in which two unexpected worlds collide, with a deadly cost. In upstate New York, Clara (Bennett) is a religious zealot who worships light in lonely, sacred rituals. Brighton West (David Call) is a horror filmmaker trying to work on his script. A chance encounter with Clara leads Brighton into a hallucinatory web of faith, flesh and the sublime. Tremendously acted and full of fan-favourite cult imagery, Blood Shine is one of FrightFest’s most engaging and thought-provoking entries this year.
It’s really hard to stand out and make your mark within horror, especially where stacked sub-genres are concerned. From The Wicker Man to Midsommar, cults have always been a focal point of all things spooky and scary, so it’s unsurprising that more than one of this years FrightFest flicks centres on this theme. However, Blood Shine has the ability to stand out, due to its unique idea that’s gripping from the first few frames. Beautifully constructed with eye-catching cinematography, engaging dialogue through its thought-provoking conversations and a slow-burn that causes intrigue even at its most quiet moments, Blood Shine is commendable in all areas.
The theme of faith is expertly woven into the script, suitably balanced with an entertaining amount of blood and gore to keep horror fans impressed; effortlessly flitting between bleak and beautiful is just one of the many admirable qualities that Blood Shine boasts. Best viewed with as little prior knowledge as possible, Blood Shine takes you on a confined journey through the psyche, showing both the harm and harmony of faith. There’s also much to be said about the creative process and the mark you want your work to have, through the character of filmmaker Brighton West.
Emily Bennett Delivers a Career-Best Performance
Emily Bennett is so impressive in the leading role of Clara, that she may just deliver the best performance of the entire festival. Ethereal yet menacing, you never know what Clara is going to do next, whether she’s going to stab you in the back or kiss you on the lips, which makes the character even more indulgent and interesting. Bennett is totally believable at all times, whether she’s worshipping her faith or exhibiting violence. Starring opposite as Brighton West is David Call, who is also extremely believable. Held hostage by Clara for a large portion of the run-time, it’s interesting seeing his cocky yet likable character attempt to get on her good side and free himself. The more he learns about her faith and inner workings, the more intriguing their conversations become, and it’s fascinating to sit and watch them converse. Despite only making a small appearance due to being part of the cold open, Brendan Sexton III (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) makes his mark, and horror royalty Larry Fessenden (MaXXXine) expectedly eats up his minimal run-time. The cast are fantastic, with Bennett at the helm. It’s her movie through and through.
The only weakness Blood Shine possesses is its proclivity for repetition. Despite all conversations being engaging, and the plot itself boasting a unique edge, the script cannot help but repeat itself around that middle mark due to how the storyline plays out. This may be felt even further due to how strong and gripping the opening and first act are, as it hits a lull after this when things slow down. Not every viewer will be consistently entertained by Blood Shine’s slow pace and dialogue-driven approach, and though it has moments of blood and gore, these are few and far between compared to other films at the festival. Those who get on board with the narrative and intense themes are bound to enjoy Blood Shine, despite the fact it becomes less shocking and entertaining as it progresses.
Final Verdict: Blood Shine is Haunting, Beautiful, and Unforgettable
Blood Shine is exactly as the title suggests - equal parts haunting and beautiful. With a stellar lead performance from Emily Bennett, well explored themes of faith and flesh and plenty of cult imagery that’s both mesmerizing and terrifying, Blood Shine is as memorable as it is engaging. A hidden gem within FrightFest, this deserves a wider audience.
'Blood Shine' premiered at Frightfest London 2025
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