Clean Blood
From the Archives
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Short Films, 05-Dec-2018
A Christmas movie about family, the Apocalypse and an immaculately pregnant man. Directed by and starring Jordan Michael Blake, “Clean Blood,” is one of the strangest holiday shorts you’ll ever see. It’s a blood-soaked affair with an outlandish premise, but just as defined by an ultra mundane family argument. Elijah, a pregnant man, evades the Apocalypse to make it home for the holidays, where all is pretty normal, and the Christmas meal goes on as planned. When a sibling debate sparks between Elijah and his sister about who “made the potatoes” — it’s her recipe; he helped cut them — it goes on for far too long, then descends into surreal chaos. Blake is compelling as the unhinged Elijah, as is Stephanie Allynne, playing the more composed sister. The exact meaning of the film’s religious overtones and pregnancy role reversal may not be easily decipherable, but the film permeates with an indelible scent, and is offset with flashes of humor and holiday coziness. Written, directed and produced by Jordan Michael Blake. Starring Jordan Michael Blake & Stephanie Allynne. Produced by The American Standard Film Co. D.P. Fidel Ruiz-Healy.
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