I Drink Your Blood

I Drink Your Blood is a horror film that kept audiences on edge since its release in 1971. This cult classic directed by David E. Durston and produced by Jerry Gross became an iconic addition to the exploitation horror genre of the 70s with its unconventional plot and over-the-top gore. The leading cast features Bhaskar Roy Chowdhury, Jadin Wong, and Rhonda Fultz pulling impressive performances that contribute to the movie's popularity among horror enthusiasts.

In I Drink Your Blood, the director uses standard elements of horror to frame a story that pushes boundaries, utilizing the exoticism of the era's fascination with cults and alternate lifestyles. Set in a fictitious, small, run-down town called Valley Hills, the script perfectly capitalizes on the remote and almost too calm setting, gradually grated with instances of terror and blood-curdling suspense.

Bhaskar Roy Chowdhury plays Horace Bones, the malevolent leader of a nomadic hippie cult revolving around Satan worship. His character is as charismatic as he is terrifying, and Chowdhury throws himself into the role with relish, bringing a palpable sense of terror to the screen. Jadin Wong stars as Molly, another member of the cult, who also delivers an engaging performance, capturing audiences' attentions, as she struts the line of eroticism, mysticism, and fear.

Alongside Chowdhury and Wong, Rhonda Fultz stars as Sylvia, a local girl who unwittingly gets tangled in the horrific events instigated by the cult, providing an essential local's perspective on the chaos unfolding in a town that once knew peace.

As the movie plot progresses, a strange turn of events revolves around tainted meat pies, contaminated with the blood of a rabid dog, wreak havoc on the small town, escalating the horror to a whole new level. It's a plot device that is as shocking and audacious, as it is original – even now, decades later. The result is a series of visually graphic scenes featuring violent outbursts and convictions by cult members and disturbed locals. The movie thrives on these horrifying sequences and unexpected twists that kept viewers engaged till the very last minute.

However, I Drink Your Blood is more than just an exploitation film aiming to shock its audience, it’s also a social commentary of its era. During a time when counterculture movements and unconventional lifestyles were on the rise, and with the Manson Family trials fresh in the public's memory, the film offers an exaggerated critique of societal fears and paranoia relating to these shifting norms. The sharp contrast between the peaceful city dwellers and the psychotic cult members reveals the clash of different cultures and ideologies prevalent during that time.

The cinematography of the movie, despite its low-budget roots, affords the story a considerable visual appeal. Its unique sense of eerie aesthetics accompanying the scenes that give the lifeblood to the overall madness and dementia the movie is known for.

Throughout, the film exhibits Durston's brilliant handling of suspense, manipulating the audience's sense of impending doom with deliberated pacing and daring camera work. The mood is perfectly backed by Clay Pitts' gripping and often chaotic score, enhancing the sense of dread that permeates the movie.

While I Drink Your Blood can seem dated from some perspectives, its rawness rather heightens its impact with contemporary audiences who appreciate a dose of retro horror. Its blend of exaggerated horror visuals, poignant social commentary, and enthralling performances establish I Drink Your Blood as a landmark in the world of drive-in horror cinema.

In conclusion, I Drink Your Blood stands its ground as a testament to the audacity of 70's horror cinema. While it may make some viewers balk with its explicit violence and disturbing plotline, it also draws them in with its unfiltered depiction of anarchy, terror, and the basal side of human nature. For horror fans in particular, this is a film that merits viewing, if only to appreciate the impact it had on shaping horror genre norms in the years that followed.