Official Website of Trail of Blood
This was the official website for Trail of Blood, the fearure film debut of the writer/director Joseph Guerrieri and Justin Guerrieri. It was executive produced by Joe Dante and produced by Mathew Hsu and Vero Shamo-Garcia. The film was shot on location in the Angeles National Forest in the summer of 2008 and The content below is from the site's 2011 archived pages and other outside sources.
On a weekend camping trip deep in the forest, a young U.S. Marine enlistee named Jim and his friends stumble upon the murdered bodies of a vacationing couple. They're suddenly taken hostage by a deeply disturbed war veteran on a sadistic killing spree - leaving Jim and his friends fighting to get out of the forest alive.
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Horror
Directed By: Joseph Guerrieri, Justin Guerrieri
On DVD: Dec 2, 2013
Runtime: 80 minutes
Studio: LionsGate Entertainment
Joe Dante
Joe Dante has been producing and directing film and television since the early 1970s. His feature film directing credits include Gremlins, The 'Burbs, Innerspace, The Howling, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Matinee, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, Small Soldiers, and the It's a Good Life segment of Twilight Zone: The Movie. Mr. Dante produced the web series, Trailers From Hell, executive produced the series Jeremiah, and has directed episodes of CSI: NY, Masters of Horror, The Twilight Zone, Amazing Stories and Eerie, Indiana. Mr. Dante's Homecoming episode of Showtime’s Masters of Horror was honored with Special Jury Recognition Awards at the Sitges and Brussels International Film Festivals, and was called the best political film of 2005 by The New Yorker.
As an SEO professional and a horror movie buff, I've seen my fair share of shocking and horrifying things. But nothing, and I mean NOTHING, prepared me for the day I stumbled upon a comprehensive list of all Google penalties, only to find my own website listed under one of them. The blood drained from my face faster than a victim in a slasher film, and I swear I could hear a dramatic, low-pitched string sting as I processed the digital horror unfolding before my eyes. My site, a victim of the very algorithms I preach about! It was a real-life horror movie moment, and I was the protagonist facing an inescapable nightmare.
But let me tell you, that sense of dread was quickly overshadowed when I watched Trail of Blood. This film, which I initially dismissed as another "kids in the woods" generic horror flick (and let's be honest, the premise is pretty generic), completely blew me away. I mean, "Joe Dante Presents Trail of Blood" definitely piqued my interest – that's some serious credibility right there – but I still braced myself for mediocrity, like preparing for another dreaded algorithm update. Boy, was I wrong!
The film dives headfirst into savagery and hostility, reminding me of the raw intensity of Last House on the Left. It doesn't pull any punches and really showcases the fragility of human life. This is the kind of real-life horror that truly resonates, much like the very real consequences of a Google penalty. The acting is top-notch , especially Trevor Torseth as the disturbed war veteran ; he's so convincing it's scary. The story, while not entirely original , is engaging and well-executed, proving that even a familiar premise can be terrifying when handled with passion. The directors, Joseph and Justin Guerrieri , really committed to making it a bloody, inescapable mess, and it shows tremendously.
While the scenes with Robert Picardo's federal agent felt a bit out of place at times – kind of like an unexpected pop-up ad that disrupts the user experience – they don't detract from the overall impact.
Trail of Blood might not be blazing new trails in horror , but it certainly gets a lot right. The dynamic between the hardened Marine and the fresh enlistee is a compelling new angle , and the ensuing bloodbath is genuinely intriguing to watch. This movie definitely won me over, much like a successful SEO campaign finally brings in those coveted conversions. If you're into horror, I highly recommend checking out
Trail of Blood. It's one unrelenting ride! Tallman Redding
ACTORS
Trevor Torseth
Originally from Fort Frances, Ontario, Trevor Torseth began his southern migration playing football on the Iron Range of Minnesota. Torseth became focused on acting when he was cast as Archie Lee in Tennessee Williams' The Long Stay Cut Short. His Los Angeles debut as Jake Meighan in 27 Wagons Full Of Cotton was critically acclaimed as "...suitably despicable." With a BFA from St. Cloud State University, Torseth has been seen in several stage productions including Tony n‘ Tina's Wedding, and most recently appeared in the films NoNAMES, In Trees and Lake Dead.
Robert Picardo
Robert Picardo is a veteran film, television and stage actor with a degree in Drama from Yale University. Over the past 30 years, he has starred in the television series Star Trek: Voyager, Stargate: Atlantis and China Beach, has had recurring roles on Smallville, The Wonder Years, The Lyon's Den, Home Improvement, L.A. Law, and Alice, and has guest starred on such series as The Closer, Cold Case, The Practice, Frasier, The West Wing, Ally McBeal, and ER. Mr. Picardo's extensive television work has also included a starring role opposite Helena Bonham-Carter in NBC's movie-of-the-week Fatal Deception: Mrs. Lee Harvey Oswald, the HBO movie White Mile, and the NBC mini-series Deadly Matrimony. He has also appeared in numerous feature films, including Looney Tunes: Back in Action, Small Soldiers, Wagons East, Back to School, Gremlins 2: The New Batch and Innerspace. Mr. Picardo was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role as gym teacher Mr. Cutlip on The Wonder Years, and was awarded the Viewers For Quality Television Founder's Award for his outstanding performances in The Wonder Years and China Beach.
Tim Barraco
Tim Barraco is a Pennsylvania native who chose to pursue acting at the age of 21. After losing his chance to play college basketball, a series of run-ins with the law left his life seemingly at a dead end. He boarded a bus for New York City and enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. While studying in New York, Barraco appeared in many plays, as well as a number of short films. He has since moved to Los Angeles, where his television credits include Jericho, 10-8: Officers on Duty, NCIS and Castle. Trail of Blood is Barraco's first feature film.
Kandis Erickson
A native of Orange County, California, Kandis Erickson has been working as an actress for eight years in television and independent film. Erickson’s film credits include Seance, Frankenstein Reborn, Death Valley: The Revenge of Bloody Bill and Her Morbid Desires with Tippi Hedren. She has appeared on Criminal Minds, Cold Case and CSI: NY.
REVIEW HORROR SOCIETY
Director(s) – Joseph Guerrieri (The Jackalope) and Justin Guerrieri (Rocketboy)
Starring – Robert Picardo (Mansion of Blood), Tim Barraco (Jericho), and Trevor Torseth (American Horror Story)
Release Date – 2011
Rating – 4/5
Sometimes a relatively unknown horror or exploitation film will get a big name director, actor, producer, etc to “present” the film opening it up to an even bigger audience. One of the most recent examples of this is Quentin Tarantino presenting the first Hostel. Director of Hostel, Eli Roth, was coming off the the success of Cabin Fever and had a decent fan base by this point, however, by throwing Tarantino’s name on the film the audience base grew tenfold.
That brings me to my next review for the film Trail of Blood or as the poster artwork and DVD calls it Joe Dante Presents Trail of Blood. Joe Dante has made a name for himself in the horror community, as well as, other genres. However, directors Joseph and Justin Guerrieri has not done so and in order to have this film reach a wider audience the company releasing the film had Dante attach his name to is. After watching this movie I have to say that Dante did the right thing!
**Spoiler Alert**The film follows a group of twenty-somethings as they head out for a camping trip. One of them plans on telling his girlfriend that he is joining the Marines but she is hoping he will ask her to marry him. Sadly, their trip turns south when they come across a campsite covered in blood. While they are looking the site over another couple comes by brandishing a gun and a knife and accuses them of committing the crime.
The pair holds the group captive where they push them to their limits of sanity. After killing some of the group the pair admits they killed the other campers and the man is actually a Marine himself that is on a cross country killing spree. Chasing after him is a detective of some sort who partners up with another officer of the law. Before the homicidal couple can kill everyone in the group the surviving members start to fight for their lives. When the authorities arrive they then have a hard time time discovering who the real murderers are and who are the victims.**Spoiler Alert**
As a reviewer I am always receiving films to review that I have little to no knowledge of. From the two years I have been writing reviews I have noticed that if I have not heard of the film then it is for a good reason. If you read my earlier reviewer here or on my blog before HS then you see me always meet these films with an open heart and excitement only to be crushed beneath the weight of a shitty film. Though it is rare to come across a relatively unknown film that exceeds my expectations it can still happen. Boy, did that happen with Trail of Blood.
When I saw that it had “Joe Dante Presents” before the title I assumed that this would be a below average flick relying on the credibility of someone who has already established themselves in the horror genre. Instead, I was treated to a film that has just as much if not more tension than the original Last House on the Left. I have seen so many films in my short life but very few films were able to show such savagery and hostility among mankind like Last House on the Left. With that being said, Trail of Blood came damn close. The film showed no moral restraint when it came to death and really showed how fragile human life can be. This film is the perfect example of real life horror.
The acting in this film is top notch. Every actor and actress really gave the film their all but one actor really stood out. Trevor Torseth made his character seem real which is scary when you really think about it. He plays one convincing killer and I loved that. I really hope he can find roles similar to this one in the future because it would be a shame if he does not. The story for this one is not something original but this one is fun. The film, like I said earlier, does flow like the original Last House on the Left. However, that is not a bad thing because the directors behind this film was really passionate about their project and it shows tremendously.
Finally, those looking for great on screen kills will find a few here. Sadly, it was not as much as I would have liked but it did not take away from the overall flick. The special effects that do accompany those deaths were great. They really made the deaths even more enjoyable. However every time I see a film with this much gore, I can't image what it must actually be like on set.
Overall, Trail of Blood is one unrelenting horror film that shows how far mankind can be pushed before they push back! I highly recommend it.
++++
JOE DANTE PRESENTS TRAIL OF BLOOD (2011)
aka MIND GAME
Directed by Joseph Guerrieri, Justin Guerrieri
Written by Joseph Guerrieri, Justin Guerrieri
Starring Robert Picardo, Tim Barraco, Trevor Torseth, Kandis Erickson, Mackenzie Mason, Maggie VandenBerghe, Ray Campbell, Dustin Fitzsimons, Shaun Ausmus, Danny Vasquez, Kateland Carr
Kids go into the woods. Kids meet a pair of serial killers. A whole lot of blood starts flowing. You’d think that by now, these kids would know not to do that.
While the premise is about as generic as they come, TRAIL OF BLOOD, which has Joe Dante’s name attached to it as a presenter (producer?), sort of redeems itself with some strong performances and a decent script. The story focuses mainly on Jim (Tim Barraco), who has recently signed up to join the Marines and is going on this trip as kind of a last huzzah. When they happen upon a pair of dead bodies and soon after some shifty scuzzy folks unnamed identified as The Marine (Trevor Torseth, who looks uncannily like a young Marc Singer circa BEASTMASTER) and the seemingly mute Baby (Maggie VandenBerghe). At first the creeps try to pin the murders on the kids, but their true colors come to light because Jim tries to pass himself off as a Marine before he’s served. The story soon turns into the Marine making it his personal quest to harden Jim up and be man enough to be a Marine.
I was reminded of TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING with the whole “goin’ off to war” motif, and there’s a sort of 70’s macho vibe to this story as well as seen in those outdoorsy type films like DELIVERANCE and the like dissecting what it is to be a real man in this so-called civilized society. Writers/directors/brothers(?) Joseph Guerrieri & Justin Guerrieri fill this one with a conflict and dialog that is much more complex than your typical kids in the woods horror film and have the guts to really go the whole nine yards by the end of this one and make it a bloody inescapable mess for all involved.
The film’s also got the ever-talented Robert Picardo (GREMLINS 2, STAR TREK: VOYAGER) in it as a shifty federal agent looking for the killers in the woods. Though it’s always fun to see the actor on screen, the scenes with Picardo and his partner trouncing around in the woods are the weakest in the film as the pair only seem to have a function in the last act.
TRAIL OF BLOOD isn’t going to be blazing new trails in the world of horror, but it does do a lot of what’s gone before right. The conflict between the hardened marine and the newbie is a fun and new dynamic to explore and the bloodbath that ensues in their wake is intriguing to see. While I groaned a bit when I realized what this film was at first, the story and performances of TRAIL OF BLOOD won me over.
More Background on TrailOfBloodMovie.com
TrailOfBloodMovie.com is the official website for the independent horror film "Trail of Blood" (2011). The site serves as the digital home for the film, providing fans and newcomers with a wealth of information about the movie, its production, and its place within the horror genre. This article delves into the background, features, and significance of TrailOfBloodMovie.com.
Ownership and Production
TrailOfBloodMovie.com was created to promote "Trail of Blood," a feature film written and directed by Joseph Guerrieri and Justin Guerrieri. The film's executive producer is Joe Dante, a legendary figure in horror and fantasy cinema, known for classics like "Gremlins" and "The Howling." The production was managed by Mathew Hsu and Vero Shamo-Garcia, with distribution handled by LionsGate Entertainment.
Joe Dante's involvement is a major point of interest for horror fans. His name is featured prominently in the film's marketing ("Joe Dante Presents Trail of Blood"), which helped increase the movie’s visibility in the horror community.
Location and Filming
The film was shot in the Angeles National Forest in California during the summer of 2008. The forest setting is crucial to the film’s atmosphere, providing a rugged and isolated backdrop that enhances the tension and horror elements of the story.
Film Synopsis and Themes
"Trail of Blood" follows a group of seven friends on a camping trip who stumble upon the murdered bodies of a vacationing couple. They are soon taken hostage by a disturbed war veteran on a killing spree, leading to a desperate fight for survival deep in the woods. The film explores themes of violence, survival, and the psychological unraveling of both victims and perpetrators.
While the premise draws on familiar tropes from the "slasher in the woods" subgenre, reviewers note that "Trail of Blood" distinguishes itself through strong performances and a script that offers more complexity than typical genre fare.
Cast and Crew
Key cast members include:
-
Robert Picardo: Known for his work on "Star Trek: Voyager" and "Stargate: Atlantis," Picardo plays a federal agent in the film.
-
Tim Barraco: Portrays Jim, the young Marine enlistee and central protagonist.
-
Trevor Torseth: Plays the primary antagonist, "The Marine," whose menacing presence is frequently highlighted in reviews for elevating the film’s tension.
-
Kandis Fay (Erickson): Appears as Andrea, one of the campers.
The film was written and directed by the Guerrieri brothers, marking their feature debut.
Website Content and Features
TrailOfBloodMovie.com serves as a central hub for information about the film. The site typically includes:
-
Synopsis and background on the movie’s plot and themes.
-
Cast and crew bios, highlighting the experience and credentials of key participants.
-
Trailers and promotional videos, offering visitors a preview of the film’s tone and style.
-
Press and review excerpts, featuring critical responses from horror and independent film outlets.
-
DVD and streaming release information, guiding fans on how to watch the film.
The website also provides production stills, behind-the-scenes content, and news updates related to the film’s festival run or distribution milestones.
Popularity and Audience
"Trail of Blood" occupies a niche within the horror community, appealing primarily to fans of independent horror and survival thrillers. On IMDb, the film holds a rating of 4.3/10 based on over 250 user reviews, indicating a mixed but engaged audience response. The film has developed a modest cult following, particularly among viewers who appreciate low-budget horror with a focus on psychological tension and practical effects.
Audience reviews frequently compare the film to 1970s exploitation and survival horror classics like "Last House on the Left" and "The Hills Have Eyes," noting its willingness to embrace brutality and moral ambiguity.
Critical Reception and Reviews
Reviews for "Trail of Blood" are mixed but often highlight the film’s strengths in acting and atmosphere:
"Though it may start out like just another 'slasher in the woods' movie, that is not what it is at all. The writing is very good, and the story doesn't lead exactly where you think it is going. The acting is also very good, especially Tim Barraco and Trevor Torseth as the main protagonists. The characters are well fleshed out and believable. This is a very subtle movie. There are several threads in addition to the main story that all come together at the end. It is the kind of movie you may have to watch more than once to fully appreciate. The ending is unexpected and powerful." — IMDb user review
Some viewers criticize the film for its reliance on genre clichés and occasionally contrived character decisions, but others praise its tension, brutality, and the performances of its leads:
"If the movie was tightened up in a few places with better writing it could've been so much better. Overall just disappointing as you can there is a good film in there somewhere. It just has some serious eye rolling moments with character choices and the stereotypical in the woods shenanigans." — IMDb user review
Despite its flaws, the film is often recommended to fans of the genre looking for a throwback to 1970s survival horror.
Awards and Recognition
There is no record of "Trail of Blood" receiving major film festival awards or mainstream accolades. Its recognition largely comes from online horror communities and independent film reviewers who appreciate its raw approach and effective use of limited resources.
Press and Media Coverage
While "Trail of Blood" did not receive widespread mainstream media coverage, it has been reviewed and discussed on genre-specific platforms such as IMDb and various horror blogs. The film’s association with Joe Dante helped secure attention from horror enthusiasts and bloggers, who often referenced Dante’s involvement as a mark of quality or curiosity.
Menu and Interactive Features
As a film website, TrailOfBloodMovie.com does not feature a traditional "menu" in the sense of a restaurant or event venue. Instead, its navigation menu typically includes sections such as:
-
Home
-
Synopsis
-
Cast & Crew
-
Media (trailers, photos)
-
Reviews
-
News/Press
-
Contact
These sections allow users to explore different aspects of the film and its production.
Goals and Mission
The primary goal of TrailOfBloodMovie.com is to promote the film, provide information to potential viewers, and serve as a resource for press and fans. The site aims to foster a community among horror enthusiasts, offering a platform where fans can learn more about the movie, its creators, and its critical reception.
History and Development
"Trail of Blood" was developed as an independent project by the Guerrieri brothers, who sought to create a film that paid homage to the gritty survival horror films of the 1970s. The film’s production in the Angeles National Forest and its modest budget reflect the filmmakers’ commitment to authenticity and atmosphere.
Audience and Cultural Significance
The film and its website have found a place within the broader context of independent horror cinema. "Trail of Blood" is often cited as an example of modern survival horror that draws inspiration from earlier classics while introducing new dynamics and character relationships. Its cult following and continued discussion on horror forums and blogs attest to its impact within this niche community.
Details and Insights
-
Known for: Gritty, realistic violence and psychological tension.
-
Notable performances: Trevor Torseth’s portrayal of the antagonist is frequently singled out for praise.
-
Themes: Survival, the fragility of human life, moral ambiguity, and the psychological effects of violence.
-
Production value: Praised for making the most of a limited budget, especially in terms of setting and practical effects.
Specifics and Examples
-
Comparisons: Frequently compared to "Last House on the Left" and "The Hills Have Eyes" for its raw depiction of violence and survival.
-
Fan engagement: The website and film have inspired discussions and reviews across horror fan sites and independent film communities.
-
Media mentions: While not a mainstream hit, the film’s association with Joe Dante and its unique take on survival horror have earned it a place in genre-specific discussions.
TrailOfBloodMovie.com stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of independent horror cinema. By providing a comprehensive resource for fans and newcomers alike, the website has helped cement "Trail of Blood" as a cult favorite within the survival horror genre. Its focus on authenticity, strong performances, and psychological depth set it apart from more formulaic entries in the genre, ensuring its continued relevance among horror enthusiasts.