Blessid – An Independent Film Review

Hello everyone Kevin of Film Fervor here bringing you another Independent Film review. Today we will be talking about the 2015 Drama Blessid directed by Rob Fitz and written by Robert Heske. Starring Rachel Kerbs, Rick Montgomery Jr and Gene Silvers.

Blessid is the story of young pregnant Sarah Duncliffe’s (Rachel Kerbs) loveless life married to Edward (Gene Silvers) and their many struggles being together. Sarah is haunted by her past through strange visions of a water logged and bloated image of a young girl who is always calling for her to come play. These images plus the loveless marriage leave Sarah contemplating suicide for the second time in her life, this is compounded by a mishap in the shower that leaves her bed ridden under her doctor’s orders. During this time she notices a new neighbor move into the house across the street, a strange old man(Rick Montgomery Jr.) who likes to steal the weeds from her garden. After sneaking into his greenhouse and cutting herself on some glass Sarah passes out and is taken to the hospital by the black toothed man,The two become fast friends and Sarah soon learns that there is more to Jedediah than meets the eye. Meanwhile Sarah’s insane ex lover who she had an affair with has returned to her life and is threatening to upset the delicate balance her life is perched on.

It is very rare in Independent films to find a not only a perfectly produced film but also one with some very prolific actors on the cast, Blessid manages to find both and the results are nothing short of spectacular. While the plot itself is a little confusing and it finishes abruptly the acting and the production itself is well worth the confusion you are left with at the end of the film.

The cinematography is perhaps one of if not the best I have ever seen in a Independent film. The picture quality is crystal clear and the shots are all so expertly done you’d truly think you are watching a massive budgeted Hollywood feature. Each scene is painstakingly shot to give you the proper feeling for each situation you are joining Sarah in and never once is picture quality sacrificed for time or to hide a blemish that you didn’t mean to film. Of course you can’t just have a great picture and slack on the audio.

Sound is one of the Achilles heels in most independent films. Either through horrible dubbing and editing or just substandard equipment many indie films fall flat in the audio department, Blessid however shows just what a dedicated and caring production company are capable of. Each of the stellar performances of the fairly well known actors are crystal clear and perfectly understandable. There is none of the popping, hissing and drop offs that many lesser quality films have nor are there any ADR issues that I could see at all. It all comes off as a smoothly edited and professionally shot, worthy of any major studio release.

I have mentioned it earlier but perhaps one of the biggest stand outs of Blessid is the amazingly talented actors and actresses in the film. Normally in an independent film you get some little known or brand new actors in your title rolls and while that is fine you can often feel their inexperience and it can jar you from the action. The three title roles in Blessid however are all slotted with fairly prolific professional actors who each deliver a stellar performance. Gene Silver’s Edward easily comes off as a pushy jerk who wants to dominate his wife into being something she is not and leaves you simply hating him while Rachel Kerbs’s Sarah’s heart breaking melancholy and haunting flashes leaves you just as twisted and confused as she is. The dialog is well thought out and each scene delivers a range of emotions that most dramas try to imbue but seldom deliver on.

If there was one fault in Blessid that I had to name it was the confusing nature of the story. At first it seems like it is going to be your typical unhappy family that ultimately leads to a divorce and redemption arch but then takes a hard left turn with the introduction of Jedediah, a man who apparently is an immortal. Half way through the film you start to learn about this highly unusual man and his life and the pace finely picks up, however I was disappointed in the fact that he is hardly explored at all nor is he explained. Sarah simply accepts this fact despite it being completely out of the normal for the world they had painstakingly built. When you think you are about to get some answers to these very important questions you are flashed to two years into the future and nothing is explained on how or why he is immortal or how he found his new girlfriend who happens to be two hundred years old. To me it was a missed opportunity and a very big glaring plot hole that is never filled.

Over all Blessid is a strange emotional roller coaster of a movie that was very clearly painstakingly put together by a company that actually cared what they were making and with actors who not only got their characters but brought them to life in a very believable and convincing way. It is beautifully filmed and very much worth the Ninety Seven minute run time despite having a few strange plot holes and slightly confusing story. I give Blessid a very solid four out of five stars.