Want more recommendations for your family?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration
Blood Fest
By Michael Ordona,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Extremely gory horror comedy gleefully lives up to its name.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Blood Fest
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
Dax (Robbie Kay), a young man who was traumatized as a child by his mother's murder, grows up to become an obsessive horror-movie fan. He and his "hot" friend, Sam (Seychelle Gabriel), and his funny friend, Krill (Jacob Batalon), go to a massive horror-movie event, the titular BLOOD FEST, at a remote location. Lo and behold, the movies' celebrated cinematic nightmares start becoming real; creative dismemberments follow.
Is It Any Good?
This is a meta horror-comedy that practically prances through its many victims' entrails. Writer-director Owen Egerton looks to be having a whale of a time, including giving himself a plum acting role. He peppers Blood Fest with references to The Shining, Psycho, Saw, and others. The movie gleefully hits all the expected marks, complete with the obvious twists at the end, dancing on graves all the way. The practical effects department probably laughed itself silly with all the heads it had to prep for splitting and the guts it packed into bodies for yanking out.
The story is negligible (another genre cliché), but the dialogue is fun. Dax dislikes an actress because she knows nothing about the horror movies in which she's appearing: "She thought Black Christmas was a Tyler Perry movie. She wouldn't see Seven because she hadn't seen the first six." The detailed backstory of one of the favorite film slashers in this world includes that he was "raised by the trees." The token virgin is asked, "You've never been with a woman?" He replies, "Not in person, no." The acting suits the material, with Batalon bringing the good-buddy vibes he cultivated in Spider-Man: Homecoming. There are pigs with chainsaws (and bodies ripe for the chainsawin'), killer clowns, Romero zombies, sexy vampires -- the whole shot. There's even a totally random celebrity cameo. Horror fans should find Blood Fest a very, very bloody good time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the extreme gore in Blood Fest. When people are killed with such gusto, what effect does the violence have on viewers? Was there ever a moment in the film when you were scared/horrified?
The film is extremely self-aware, frequently commenting on its own genre. If you're a horror fan, does that make it funnier for you? If you're not a horror fan, was it still appealing?
Do you think the film is meant to scare you, make you laugh, or both? Why?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 31, 2018
- On DVD or streaming: October 2, 2018
- Cast: Seychelle Gabriel , Robbie Kay , Jacob Batalon , Zachary Levi
- Director: Owen Egerton
- Inclusion Information: Latino actors, Asian actors
- Studio: Cinedigm
- Genre: Horror
- Run time: 90 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: September 30, 2022
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate