Rise: blood Hunter (2007) Starring Lucy Liu, Robert Forster & Cameron Richardson Directed by Sebastian Gutierrez Written by Sebastian Gutierrez

Although originally called “Rise” in its 2007 theatrical release, it was later named “Rise: Blood Hunter” when it went to DVD, and starred Lucy Liu and Michael Chiklis among its cast. Carla Gugino is probably the only member of the cast who wants to list this among her credits and that only under duress. Her acting was the only part of the movie that was somewhat convincing. Joining a long list of vampire movies this one took some potentially interesting plot devices and then disassembled them into a murky past/present montage that failed to either keep your interest or even provide remote amounts of suspense, fear or even gore for those who appreciate the finer art of blood spatter.

The acting was on par with the dialogue, menial and stilted. The scene where Lucy Liu’s character is “made” into a vampire is a prolonged and painfully grotesque display of sadism and brutality that does not redeem itself in any way. I am not a huge fan of Saw or Cabin Fever but they were movies who knew what they were and stuck to the game plan, utilizing the gore and acting to relay a plot or shock, whichever you enjoy most. This is a movie that tried to be something it wasn’t; it had the intent to re-invent the vampire story and failed horribly. If you’re going to have someone play a tough character, such as Lucy Liu is supposed to be, then she should at least be able to take on an aged “Renfield” and whip his butt before she gets to the boss fight. Instead the old codger does more damage to her before he dies. The fight scene probably did more for comic relief than action.

There was nothing redeeming in this movie, from the lack of real plot, to poor acting to really horrific special effects. Seeing Lucy Liu, in vampire state chewing on some dying homeless mans wrist like a tough egg roll was probably the highlight of special effects. I found it neither scary or gore worthy. Just more like some actors needing quick cash to pay off old debts and a director who should have reinvented his skills before the vampire legend.