Bliss (2019) – Summary, Review (with Spoilers)
In the vein of Gaspar Noe, you get Joe Begos Bliss. A bloody, sometimes shocking, story about the pains a creative goes through to get a piece finished.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.
In the vein of Gaspar Noe, you get Joe Begos Bliss. A bloody, sometimes shocking, story about the pains a creative goes through to get a piece finished.
| Director(s) | Joe Begos | |
| Screenplay By | Joe Begos | |
| Date Released | 9/27/2019 | |
| Genre(s) | Horror | |
| Who Is This For? |
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| Where To Buy, Rent, or Stream? | Amazon | |
| Noted Cast | ||
| Dezzy | Dora Madison | |
| Hadrian | Graham Skipper | |
| Courtney | Tru Collins | |
| Clive | Jeremy Gardner | |
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Plot Summary/ Review
Dez is an artist. One who has had her work published before, but with her latest piece being weeks overdue, her taking an advance, and feeling unable to complete her latest work, she is frustrated. So frustrated that she seeks out her friend Hadrian to help, since he has that good s***. However, while what he gives us leads to a rush of inspiration, it also pushes her beyond the lines of sanity and takes her to places no human can return from sane.
Highlights
Madison As Dez
Bliss could easily be jarring as drugs are induced, we meet people who seem straight out of a direct to VOD horror movie, and people become almost interchangeable. Be it because of Dez’s drug addiction or just their general appearance. However, Dora Madison keeps you focused by entrancing you to the point that, between how she moves and the music playing, you feel like the snake being charmed.
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For even when she is yelling, dealing with the effects of “Bliss” and seemingly deranged, you can’t ever say it is just the violence that is maintaining your attention. It is Madison, who seems destined for something beyond a splatter fest kind of film, who’ll make it so, as you think you have built up a tolerance to what Begos is pushing, you realize you haven’t.
It’s F***ing Insane
I’m not 100% sure if Begos is a fan of Gaspar Noe but from the music to what the characters and actors are put through, be it a homage or in the spirit of, Bliss might remind you of Noe’s past work. Specifically the descent into the rawest of human emotions, especially in regards to the carnal need to express oneself and do so unfiltered. Which, indie budget or not, Begos’ work doesn’t give off the vibe that he was pressed with limitations at all, and instead, he was able to give you his full vision. Which is something that can rarely be said about the majority of indie movies.
On The Fence
Some Characters, Specifically Clive and Hadrian, You May Get Mixed Up
Only Dezzy really pops on screen, and while you can spot Courtney in a line-up, most of the characters don’t leave a strong impression. Clive and Hadrian, for example, the only difference between them is the lengths of their beard. Making them, after their initial introduction, easy to confuse when Dezzy isn’t in Hadrian’s place where Clive isn’t likely to go.
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Overall: Positive (Worth Seeing)
Begos’ vision and Madison’s performance drive Bliss to the splendor it is. And while some characters don’t necessarily stand out, and are but fodder for the flame of Madison’s mania, it’s such a negligible criticism. Hence the positive label.
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Bless Ending Explained
Thanks to all the coke that Dez was doing, which had DMT, which has intense psychedelic effects, she ends up killing everyone. Leaving her with a masterpiece which has a female demonic figure which has a satanic symbol shown. Pushing the idea Dez sold her sold to the devil after draining the blood of her friends for her work.
Now, as for why she explodes? Well, considering she did shoot herself in the head, and we see her on drugs for most of the film. Making it so, what we see towards the end, with her fighting Clive and Courtney, that could have happened before she shot herself.
Is A Sequel Possible?
Unless the sequel took a Velvet Buzzsaw route, I’m unsure how a sequel could be done.
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Madison As Dez - 90%
It’s F***ing Insane - 85%
Some Characters, Specifically Clive and Hadrian, You May Get Mixed Up - 75%
83%
Begos’ vision and Madison’s performance drive Bliss to the splendor it is. And while some characters don’t necessarily stand out, and are but fodder for the flame of Madison’s mania, it’s such a negligible criticism. Hence the positive label.
