Bloat is a 2025 screenlife horror film written and directed by Pablo Absento in his film directorial debut.[1][2] It stars Ben McKenzie, Bojana Novakovic, Sawyer Jones, Malcolm Fuller and Kane Kosugi.[3] The film is about the mother and her two sons vacationing in Japan and everything changed when she feel something wrong with her younger son after he almost drown in a lake.[4][5][6]
Plot
The film follows a mother who becomes convinced that her son is possessed after returning from a vacation in Japan.
Cast
- Ben McKenzie as Jack[7]
- Bojana Novakovic as Hannah[7]
- Sawyer Jones as Kyle
- Malcolm Fuller as Steve
- Kane Kosugi as Ryan
- Ethan Herschenfeld as Judge Richard Resnick
- Asha Etchison as Reporter
- David Gibson as Jack's Father
- Rebecca Nelson as Jack's Mother
- James Adam Lim as Police Officer #2
- Miyu Yokota as Sakura
- David Lavine as Forensic Expert
- Larry Bull as Defense Attorney
- Jeff Applegate as Col. William Bradley
- Akiyo Komatsu as Officer Ikeda
- Zack Niizato as Doctor
Production
Pulsar Content and XYZ Films teamed up to handle sales on Bloat. The film was set an international co-production between Bazelevs Company and Flag Co. Ltd.[8][9]
Written and directed by Pablo Absento. The filming began in New York City and wrapped in Tokyo in October. The post-production was completed on mid 2023. The film marks as the second collaboration of Bazelevs Company and Pulsar Content.[8]
Release
The film is scheduled to release in theaters and VOD on March 7, 2025,[10] under Lionsgate.[11][12][13]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 31% of 13 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.30/10.[14]
Nathaniel Muir of AIPT gave the film a negative feedback and he wrote; A straightforward telling would have provided more tension while an increased focus on characters would have given audiences something to care about. By the time the final credits have rolled, Bloat has failed to leave any sort of impression.[15]
Hannah Rose of CBR gave the film a rating of 5 over 10 and she said; Bloat could have been a showstopper and an instant classic. As it is, the screenlife presentation waterlogs this otherwise good story.[16] giving a 1 and half star Marya E. Gates of RogerEbert.com wrote; Despite a fiery penultimate scene, Absento’s film ends with a courtroom whimper.[17]
References
- ^ McAndrews, Mary Beth (February 25, 2025). "'Bloat' Exclusive Clip Reveals There's Something In The Water…". Dread Central. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ Billington, Alex (January 23, 2025). "Freaky Trailer for Screen Story Possession Horror 'Bloat' Set in Japan". firstshowing.net. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ "Bloat – Ben McKenzie and Bojana Novakovic face a demon in the trailer for the new horror movie". Live For Films. January 26, 2025. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ "BLOAT". Upcoming Horror Movies. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ Batham, Anurag (February 13, 2025). "Bloat: Everything we know about the upcoming horror thriller film starring Ben McKenzie". soapcentral.com. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ Morazzini, Jim (January 23, 2025). "Lionsgate Drops Poster and Trailer For Screenlife Horror Film "Bloat"". Voices From The Balcony. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ a b Hamman, Cody (February 11, 2022). "Bloat: Ben McKenzie, Bojana Novakovic star in Japanese horror film". JoBlo.com. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ a b Keslassy, Elsa (October 28, 2022). "Pulsar Content, XYZ Films Board Japanese Horror Film 'Bloat' From 'Searching' Producer Timur Bekmambetov (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ McNeely, Kelli Marchman (January 25, 2025). "From the Producer of Searching Comes the Horror Film 'Bloat'". Horror Fuel. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ Rawles, Timothy (January 23, 2025). "From Producer of 'Unfriended' and 'Searching' New Screen Life Horror 'Bloat' On VOD March 7". iHorror. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ DiVincenzo, Alex (January 23, 2025). "'Bloat' Trailer – Screenlife Horror Starring Ben McKenzie Will Possess Viewers in March". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ "Bloat (2025)". IGN. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ Navarro, Maegan (January 2, 2025). "'Bloat' – Eerie Screenlife J-Horror Movie Gets Official "R" Rating". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ "Bloat (2025) RT". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
- ^ Muir, Nathaniel (March 5, 2025). "'Bloat' review: Screenlife creature feature leaves no impression". AIPT. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
- ^ Rose, Hannah (March 4, 2025). "Bloat Review: 1 Major Thing Holds This New Horror Movie Back". CBR. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
- ^ Gates, Marya E. (March 7, 2025). "reviews Bloat". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.