MAC ELDRIDGE'S BLOOD ON THE PLAIN IS FINALLY AVAILABLE

You may remember hearing about Water Cooler productions and up and coming filmmaker Mac Eldridge a few years back when their hit zombie short "Chemical 12-D" made its festival round.  With a keen eye for the aesthetics and a strong grasp on spinning the genre, Mac Eldridge and his crew easily took the horror short world by storm.  After a highly successful and international run, Mac was on a mission to create something very, very different.  Joining his efforts (along with his amazing production team) this time around was author/screenwriter Angel Esparza.  While 12-D was merely an unique look at the zombie genre, Water Cooler Production's newest horror flick is an animal of an entirely different breed.  I submit for your approval, Blood on the Plain.  Now, I say that this is an entirely different breed for more than just stylistic reasons.  You see, Mac and the gang are trying to achieve what every filmmaker would like to do.  The short film Blood on the Plain is (hopefully) a stepping stone into creating a feature film.  It is for this reason that the short is left VERY open ended.  You know when you watch a film and your reaction is "THAT'S IT?! I WANT TO SEE MORE!" Well, that is entirely the intention of the filmmakers, and they have manged to instil that sensation with ease. If you like the short and crave more, have hopes that someday they'll be able to turn this into a feature film.

The filmmakers themselves seem to to describe this best. "Part western. Part horror. Blood on the Plain is a self-aware pulp exploration of a town in the wake of tragedy. Following a savage massacre at the Wadsworth High School Homecoming Dance, the townspeople take up arms and—under the guidance of four seasoned trackers—set out in search of justice. It’s the marriage of fear and anger which fuels these efforts and ultimately signals their failure. Those who remain will be forced to square off with the assailants; a breed of man never before seen and born of a previous generation’s offense."  They managed to create a very delicate balance of the world of Westerns and pair it elegantly with all the things that create a great horror film.  Unlike 12-D, there's a hearty pile of gore smack dab in the middle and some well executed creatures sure to give you the heebie jeebies.  Cinematographer David Wagenaar has also improved dramatically since the last time we visited him and it only continues to prove that the minds behind Water Cooler productions are a force to be reckoned with. 

My only complaint about the film is the ending, but the reaction I had was exactly what the filmmakers wanted their audience to have.  It's not a "full story" the way their first big short was, but the film making and cinematography has grown exponentially over the past few years.  At the very least, it's a beautifully shot film, and it keeps me wanting more.  This really isn't a short film per se, it's just the epitome of a teaser.  This gives just enough insight to the story we aren't able to see due to time and budget restraints.  If you're able to watch the film with all of this in mind, you'll find yourself highly entertained and like myself, wanting more.  If you aren't able to separate yourself from its unconventional feel, you may feel a bit disappointed.  I won't lie to you, it feels a bit disjointed, but it is SUPPOSED to feel that way.  Either way, they've got a gorgeous creation on their hands and something entirely new in the horror genre.  Instead of whining about the latest remake, support indie filmmakers with, I don't know, AN ORIGINAL IDEA. :)

"But BJ-C, how ever will we see this film you've been talking up for the past few paragraphs?" Well my darlings, I will tell you.  For the low, low price of $3.99 you can download the short for yourself and enjoy twelve minutes of the future of horror film making by purchasing it from The Blood On The Plain Web Store.  Not into downloads? No worry. You can totally buy a DVD at the same website for only $10.00.  What may be the most interesting of the merchandise up for sale is the selling of movie frames.  This film was brought to life by Cinematographer David Wagenaar, and to showcase the cinematic beauty that Blood on the Plain has to offer, they have decided to capture each moment frame by frame, and make these frames available to YOU!  By purchasing these frames, (at only a dollar, mind you) you are helping fund their future projects like, a feature of this film mayhaps?

Blood On The Plain will hopefully be starting a festival run in the near future, and you should really be a part of it! Support up and coming horror and indie filmmakers, or the terrorists win.  

Watch the official trailer below!