Word About Biehn

While watching Blood Of The Hunter, I was reminded, perhaps not too incongruously, of the Smothers Brothers comedy duo and that ever-recurring lament flung by Tommy at brother Dick: "Mom always liked you best!" Well, in Blood Of The Hunter, it's not mom but dad who's the culprit, and there's no comedy involved. In fact, the film is sadly short of light moments to relieve its dismal tone, and the character of Yan must vie for the dubious honor of being one of the most sullen and taciturn film heroes in B-movie history.

In essence, Blood... is about a love triangle, with deranged Blake (Michael) hunting Yan and his beautiful wife. Marie and Yan are deeply in love when Blake enters their lives to shatter their happiness. Unbeknownst to Yan, he is Blake's half-brother, despised for being the son their father loved more. But that's not his only problem, for as much as Blake hates Yan, he loves Marie. Determined to have her, he invades her home in Yan's absence, terrorizing her as Yan rushes to the rescue.

Set in the beautiful Canadian wilderness in the early 1900s, Blood Of The Hunter boasts a winter wonderland of scenery. However, its pacing is sluggish; its acting is uneven; and the flat personalities of its hero and heroine leave us indifferent to their plight. Though the writing is OK, the final fate meted out to the hunter is a nonsensical and unnecessary contrivance.

Michael animates the proceedings with his nicely constructed performance as the unhinged Blake. At first, he presents us with a killer who seems only cold and evil. Then, as the story unfolds and the script offers him the opportunity, he begins to reveal more facets of Blake's character. Utilizing his expressive face to great advantage, he shows us Blake's insane obsession with Marie and his bitter resentment of his brother. Ultimately, he lays bare Blake's torment, and his terrible sense of rejection. As Blake passionately discloses his past and his pain, we begin to understand and to pity him. By his deft portrayal, Michael in the end succeeds in arousing sympathy for the least likely of the film's lead characters-its villain.