In Blood Quantum, a zombie disease has begun to infect people in a small Quebec community. The Indigenous population, however, appears to be immune. What’s left 6 months after the outbreak is Indigenous people adapting to life with ravenous zombies and a film that finds blood-soaked violence to be its only avenue for entertainment.

The relationships between many of the characters is strained as they deal with the undead, grapple with moral dilemmas, and impose differing perspectives on how to handle outsiders. At this point, it becomes clear what the parallels writer/director Jeff Barnaby is attempting to elucidate between this horrific fable and Indigenous plights.

It makes sense for the most part. And as the movie goes on, I’m more and more invested in what the narrative has to say about the complications and concerns in Indigenous peoples’ relationship with outsiders and with one another.

The problem with Blood Quantum is that it’s entertainment value lives on a swinging pendulum. On one end is dry dialogue and discourse setting up swift swings to an unabashed affinity for over-the-top violence. There’s no in between, meaning there’s no opportunity for suspense. Horror in Blood Quantum is like a light switch being toggled on and off when often, a low-glowing flicker would’ve done the trick.

If you’re not tuned in for the spewing blood, oozing guts, and horror cliches, it’s easy to eventually check out of the film. If that happens, there’s not enough in Blood Quantum to be satisfied with.

Acting and Casting - 1 | Visual Effects and Editing - 1 | Story and Message - 2 | Entertainment Value - 0 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 1 | Reviewer's Preference - 0 | What does this mean?