BLOOD ORANGE is a colorful, creepy romp into a dark version of our reality. Angela (Shara McGlinn) works at a trendy juice bar called “Vitals”. She’s trying her best to fit in – the other staff all have bright, vibrant, over the top looks. They all have the same kind of affected, disinterested attitude. She’s doing whatever she can do to acclimate and be the best she possibly can be at her job. Which is funny, because all she can tell her best friend Em (Susan Gordon) about is how badly she wants to get out of town. Em can’t help but notice Angela’s increasing assimilation to the ways of her coworkers – which aren’t like Angela at ALL. Em decides to investigate, and finds a lot more than she bargained for.

The visual and audio effects of BLOOD ORANGE drive the slightly confusing short format story. I understand where this story wanted to go, but wonder if there could have been just a few moments more to really solidify the concept. At only 10 minutes long, it’s not as if BLOOD ORANGE had time issues. This was a fun concept – and an incredibly visual story – but I ended up feeling just a little high and dry at the end of it.

Bravo to the BLOOD ORANGE team for attempting to make very much from very little. While I’m unsure of the budgetary constraints this production faced, the production was mounted by Columbia College of Chicago, so one can imagine that this was not a big-budget film. BLOOD ORANGE makes good use of cheaper effects, and utilizes clever editing to mask what could normally play as low budget schlock. While BLOOD ORANGE definitely leans towards campy B-movie gore, I couldn’t help smiling and loving every second.

Movies like BLOOD ORANGE are made by, and for, horror geeks like me. Are they perfect? Not in the least. But they sure as hell are fun.

6/10 Blood Oranges