In Jeff Kopas’s horror-thriller film, the viewer never experiences the endorphin rush one would ordinarily expect from a sugar-induced dessert overload. It feels like the bees are family! because yes, this is about the horrors of beekeeping, family customs. Suicides, estranged children, poisonous nectar and so much more… Swigs bottle of Jack Daniels Honey What new entertainment spelling horror did I just watch? Definitely not what was on screen.
Shenae Grimes-Beech plays Jenibel Heath (yes, Jenibel), the daughter heiress of the cult like business hunting lodge. Father Marvin (Gil Bellows) is on his death bed while brother Neil (Kenneth Mitchell) manages the business. Sister Linda (Krystal Hope Nausbaum) keeps the dog busy. “The Hive” is a childhood property that reminds Jenibel of her mother’s suicide, which Marvin wants her to sell after he dies. Jenibel has no issues entertaining that request, but Neil had other plans. So did The Hive’s community congregation doctors and pilots who reap the benefits of the Beekeeping family’s business. Apologies Jenibel (still not a typo).
In ‘Blood Honey‘ Kopas has managed to constrain Jenibel within the limits of a busy bee under the reign of Marvin, Apollo’s nature walks inflict wounds, and the moon sightings are reminiscent of nightmares, all the while being haunted by the uncultured locals; all of this is happening simultaneously. At each moment, there are a multitude of forces dragging Kopas’ lead in different directions and it’s all related to psychological cognition. It is sorrowful to the extent where it defies all reasoning and understanding, but none of this explains the mob mentality perpetuated by these so-called rational humans. It’s as though almost every scene has a missing puzzle piece as the script, especially towards the end when Shyamalan attempts to bring the plot full circle, which is the most chaotic scene for the viewers and that is only the first of many insane things we have to witness.
I dislike what fate has decided to put Kopas through. If I were to estimate, it would roughly fall in between the brutality of LaBute’s The Wicker Man to Oliver Twist’s Neil. This splash of unfamiliar genres and their boundaries dances ungracefully somewhere between shadows so terrifying they don’t even allow you to blink, and those that are simply too dark to be witnessed. The strange thing is, as much as the familial bonds have ceased Jenibel’s ambition, she shall never sell out the throne and move to The Hive, where they seem far too enthusiastic to serve scotch and honey as their cocktail. Rather, she will take them to NPCs resembling elders. The narrative unfolds like honey gently pouring out, but distinctly lacking sweetness.
Let’s revisit how the movie ends as I believe that is where it all begins to fall apart. Now, I wouldn’t say that Marvin’s death – which is rather unsightly and overly animated is the reason why Blood Honey falls into a slow but steady free fall, however, Jenibel’s finale does absolutely nothing to improve things.
Prior to the conclusions, some very particular events occur to Jenibel and Linda individually. At one point, Linda takes a gun and walks off by herself. However, at the end of the movie, oh boy, we’re entering spoiler territory,y it is revealed that Linda died from an allergic reaction to bee stings while too close to the chain link fence (which consists of thick wire that a bee would absolutely not be able to get through) with Jenibel. So, throughout the film, Jenibel is visualizing Linda, and everyone just went along with it, or in the case of the gun, is it possible that Jenibel wanted to see herself as Linda? It’s a weird reveal and strangely unsatisfactory (although there are some zany flashback attempts that involve Grimes-Beech talking to some empty chairs).
Families are complicated, people are selfish, and they carry excessive baggage. I understand. Films have explored this kind of thematic weight before and will continue doing so for quite some time. It’s just that Blood Honey is not one of the more interesting vices for horror junkies. From the in-your-face-foreshadowing (Marvin’s showing of the Ruby Red poisoned honey batch he kept) to the deadness that surrounds the fly-in background setting, you will only seek for some substance and get served with banal endings. The psychological elements are less mind-blowing and more head scratching, not the easiest to appreciate with energies so low.
Blood Honey is a heritage thriller which grapples with more personal intent. Pam’s sinister plot thrills by the accumulative shock effect of the previous feel-good notion. Another senseless violence movie? Or yet another case of gory blood with highly advanced AI created bodies of pretty faces? Yet there lies the haunting feeling. The feeling that is cliche and banal, but true. That makes one witness the gruesome acts they would wish to escape. It sticks, glues, and paints over the massive amounts of soy sauce put in every single cup raised above to scald the eggy additional scabbard. Otherwise, there’s one trip home that it does not offer any appropriate commentary on torfulous themes.
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