Book of Blood (2008)

Book of Blood (2008)
aka Clive Barkers Book of Blood
Director: John Harrison
Writer: Clive Barker. John Harrison
Cast: Jonas Armstrong, Sophie Ward, Paul Blair
A paranormal expert discovers a house that is at the intersection of so-called "highways" transporting souls in the afterlife.
IMDB Page
Downbeat and subdued horror yarn based on Clive Barkers short tale Book Of Blood. The story starts with Simon (played by Jonas Armstrong of BBC's Robin Hood fame, though it should be noted here he gives a much more mature performance) hes a badly scarred loner on the run from his past. He is found by a psychopathic man who's been hired to retrieve the poor souls skin, only the mans curious why and demands the youth to tell. Simon tells him that he was helping a college professor Mary Florescu (Sophie Ward) and her assistant Reg on a paranormal study. They ended in a house that was believed to be an intersection among the souls of the dead and those of the living. Only instead of finding conclusive truth about the afterlife, the poor young man was used as a human flesh book for the spirits to type their thoughts into.

First must be noted that this film I doubt will go down very well with your typical slasher/zombie horror fan. Even though as the screen-grabs show it does have gore and a few violent set pieces its much slower and more of a psychological headfuck of a movie than is usually dished up. I personally liked it even though it did drag in places and feel very much like a made for British TV drama in other places reminded me of the type of kinky suggestive films Ken Russell used to make. Sure it's no Hellraiser but it did feel like a return to the less flashy more story driven Barker era of old. Best suited for the more patient and adventurous viewers.

(7½ out of 10)

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