Pandemics are already something of a horror, at least an existential one for modern-day audiences, and having a sick child is certainly a terrifying thought for all parents. Given all these problems are very real and scary, modern-day parents turn out to be even more protective of their children or become “helicopter parents.” And it seems like all these contemporary ideas are folded together in the new horror thriller “Blood” by genre filmmaker Brad Anderson best known for directing “The Machinist” with Christian Bale.
READ MORE: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2023
The film centers on an already-protective mother, played by Michelle Monaghan, whose child is bit by a rabid dog, resulting in a mysterious infection from the bite. The film also co-stars Skeet Ulrich, Finlay Wojtak-Hissong, June B. Wilde, Skylar Morgan Jones, and while it’s not exactly a zombie film, the idea of deadly infectious diseases hurting our children and the lengths parents will go to protect their children feels very contemporary.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Jess (Michelle Monaghan), a nurse and mother recently separated from her husband (Skeet Ulrich), moves her daughter Tyler (Skylar Morgan Jones) and young son Owen (Finlay Wojtak-Hissong) back into her family farmhouse. Shortly after settling in, Owen’s dog escapes into the woods and returns days later, blood-soaked and rabid. When the dog attacks and bites him, the resulting infection grows more shocking as Owen’s behavior becomes frightening and deadly. As he spirals deeper into the depths of the illness, Jess discovers a disturbing cure, which makes her question how far she is willing to go to keep her child alive.
“Blood” is in theaters on January 27, 2023, and available On Demand on January 31, 2023, via Vertical Entertainment. Watch the new trailer below.
