“Blood Bride” (1980) Review
“Blood Bride,” also known as “Death of a Nun,” is a forgettable 1980 horror thriller that fails to deliver on its promising premise. Writer-director Robert J. Avrech’s film follows a pious Catholic girl who uncovers her boyfriend’s dark secrets, but the execution is marred by a ludicrous script and listless direction.
The film’s visuals are reminiscent of 1970s horror, with underexposed colors, minimal lighting, and slow motion. However, even the commendable cinematography by Robert Baldwin can’t salvage the movie’s overall dullness.
The story meanders between pseudo-nunsploitation and slasher elements, never quite finding its footing. The dialogue is uninspired, and the music struggles to keep the viewer engaged. What starts as a potentially frightening tale devolves into a lackluster woman-in-peril narrative.
Rating: 1.6/5
Synopsis:
Thirty-something devoted Catholic Marie isn’t getting any younger and her father is pressuring her to find a husband. She works as a secretary for Henry Stern and she falls for one of his clients – the charming, good looking and a bit older antique book dealer John McPherson. Despite his traumatic childhood and her sexual repression, they hit it off and he soon proposes marriage.
She’s delighted, although her parents are a bit worried since she barely knows him. It soon turns out that John does indeed have a dark violent secret tied to his traumatic first sexual experience as a very young boy, which led to his lifelong sadomasochistic obsession with Sister Marry, a beautiful diabolical nun he once knew as a child. The disturbing memories of her have been haunting him ever since and now he looks for women who look like her to hurt them. And unsuspecting Marie is a dead ringer for her. However, John is about to realize that Sister Marry is not who he thinks she is.
Cast and Crew:
- Ellen Barber (Marie)
- Philip English (John McPherson)
- Sam Gray (Papa)
- Robert J. Avrech (writer-director)
- Robert Baldwin (cinematographer)
“Blood Bride” (1980) Pros:
- Eerie visual aesthetic
- Commendable cinematography
“Blood Bride” (1980) Cons:
- Ludicrous script
- Listless direction
- Tedious pacing
- Uninspired dialogue
My Verdict:
“Blood Bride” is a skippable horror thriller that fails to deliver on its promise.
Should You Watch “Blood Bride” (1980)?
Watch if:
- You’re a completist for 1980s horror
- You enjoy obscure, cult classics
Avoid if:
- You prefer well-crafted horror stories
- You’re sensitive to slow pacing
- You dislike uninspired dialogue
Where to Watch:
I found it only on YouTube at very low quality.
Technical Specs:
- Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Audio: Mono
