Review: ‘Blood Quantum’ Brings Blood, Atmosphere and Heart to the Apocalypse

The AMC owned, horror streaming service, Shudder recently dropped the 2019 TIFF selection Blood Quantum. The film was written and directed by Jeff Barnaby and stars Michael Greyeyes (True Detective, Fear the Walking Dead) Forrest Goodluck (The Revenant) Kiowa Gordon (The Twilight Saga) Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers ( The Body Remembers When the World Broke) Olivia Scriven (Degrassi: Next Class & The Next Generation) Revered MMA trainer Stonehorse Lone Goeman Brandon Oakes (Rhymes for Young Ghouls) William Belleau (Frontier, Scalped) Devery Jacobs (American Gods, The Order) Gary Farmer (Dead Man).

Jeff Barnaby is a First Nations filmmaker born on the Mi’gmaq reserve, where Blood Quantum takes place. The dead are coming back to life outside the isolated reserve of Red Crow, except for its Indigenous inhabitants who are immune to the zombie plague. Traylor (Greyeyes), the tribal sheriff, must protect his son’s pregnant girlfriend, apocalyptic refugees, and reserve riffraff from the hordes of walking white corpses. 

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The film opens as the undead begin to rise with a tension that is palpable. Even before the world falls to hordes of the living dead, the protagonists are dealing with more than just the zombies. Indigenous nations have long combatted social issues such as addiction, and isolation. Some of these issues which Barnaby uses as inspiration as the world falls apart. But the Mi’gmaq people have the space and the knowhow to pull together. They defend themselves and begin taking in townspeople. However, not all old wounds can be healed.

Barnaby’s attention to the tension, overall aesthetic, as well as perfectly placed hints of comedy are what make this film. Of course with any zombie film, there will be blood. Lots of blood. We won’t spoil anything for you but be prepared to see some amazing zombie kills. The film is stunning, the landscape and setting bring an earthy and independent feel. Blood Quantum gives its viewers a stunning story of betrayal and relying on the wrong person. Even though the ending is somewhat bleak, Barnaby still leaves us with a sense of hope.

Blood Quantum is now available to stream on Shudder. New members can enjoy 30-days free with the promo code SHUTIN when signing up at Shudder.com. Check out the trailer below and let us know your thoughts in the comments! Be sure to follow ScaryNerd for more of all things horror!