Bliss (Film Review)

2019 Dark Sky Films
Written and Directed by: Joe Begos
Starring: Dora Madison
MPAA Rating: Not Rated; Running Time: 80 Minutes
The Nicsperiment Score: 6/10

Dezzy is a sought after painter, doing heavy metal artwork for magazine and album covers, as well as art galleries. Unfortunately, she's undergoing a pretty heavy period of painter's block. She's dropped by her agent, her rent is overdue, and it seems like everyone but her slacker boyfriend is slagging her off. It doesn't help that one could generously describe Dezzy's personality as caustic, but much more accurately describe it as acrid. Dezzy decides the cure for her block might be doing a lot of drugs, then partaking in a wild night of partying where she continuously says, "I need to go home," before partying even harder. It seems like, as the nights wear on, the harder Dezzy parties and the more she mainlines some mysterious new drug called "Bliss," the more her painter's block is obliterated. The only thing is, she's also blacking out for long periods of a time...and waking up with blood dripping from her mouth.
Vampire flicks have been done to death. Writer/director, Joe Begos, has decided that his best chance to give the creatures of the night a new spin is to mount an all out assault on viewers' senses. Bliss includes a "seizure-warning" in its intro for good reason. The film's impressionistic, hyper-lit visuals are in your face for the entirety of the film's 80 minutes, only growing more intense as Bliss wears on. Likewise, the movie's loud and in your ears sound effects and stoner doom soundtrack had me constantly looking over my shoulder. And speaking of intense...
Dora Madison absolutely throws herself into the role of Dezzy. To describe this part as physical is an understatement. Madison is flinging herself around, screaming, often nude, and covered in blood and/or paint. And that's when she's not swearing off everyone she encounters. Yes, this flick goes far past a hard R--no wonder it's not rated. 

Like most people, I first encountered Burge's work when she played the sweet, though often harried, Becky, in the television drama, Friday Night Lights. She's definitely not going to get typecast after this movie. I hope this leads to more work for her. 

As to the film itself, it sure held my attention, though the constant stimulation, meant to simulate an insane drug trip, eventually started to wear on me. I definitely appreciate Begos' attempt to put a unique spin on well-worn mythology, and I'll be watching his work with great interest. You don't get many film's from the monster's perspective. There may be a reason for that, though.