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Shudder Surprise Drops Zombie Thriller “BLOOD QUANTUM”

AMC’s Shudder Surprise Drops Acclaimed Canadian Indigenous Zombie Thriller “BLOOD QUANTUM”

In light of widespread cinema closures Shudder has rerouted from their planned Spring release for BLOOD QUANTUM and spontaneously launched it at a moment in history where it could not be more significant. “We knew the film was important and timely when we acquired it last year, but given recent events, Blood Quantum’s themes of isolation, fear of contagion, and humanity struggling with the ramifications of a global virus have only grown more relevant,” said Shudder General Manager Craig Engler. “When a theatrical release became untenable due to the real-world pandemic, we decided to accelerate the launch of Barnaby’s film so it would reach the biggest audience possible.”

SYNOPSIS: The dead are coming back to life outside the isolated Mi’gmaq 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.

Jeff Barnaby is a First Nations filmmaker born on the Mi’gmaq reserve, where both BLOOD QUANTUM and his debut feature, the cult-hit RHYMES FOR YOUNG GHOULS, take place. He is the writer, director, editor and composer of BLOOD QUANTUM, which opened TIFF’s Midnight Madness program in 2019 to both audience and critical acclaim. His films frequently cast from within the Indigenous community and paint a stark and scathing portrait of post-colonial Indigenous life and culture – in this case, painting it in blood.

“Barnaby is ushering in a new era of Indigenous filmmaking” Shea Vassar – FILM DAZE

“George Romero would have dug this” Brian Tallerico – RogerEbert.com

“[Jeff Barnaby] is a film-maker with both something to say and the skillset to say it in a distinctive way” Benjamin Lee – The Guardian

“Fun and gory as hell” Meredith Borders – /FILM

“Unflinching in its horror, but hopeful in its outlook…The type of unrestrained Native American zombie movie we should have already had for years” JM Mutore – BIRTH.MOVIES.DEATH.

 

Michael DeFellipo

(Senior Editor)

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