New Blood Rising (2014) User Reviews

Amazing Low Budget Movie

[anthonyw61185 · 10/10 · 15 March 2014]

I wasn't really knowing what to expect from New Blood Rising. I thought the trailer looked amazing and it made me want to see it. I ordered the movie online. After watching it, I was surprised at what I just seen.

New Blood Rising does show it has a low budget or even no budget. But the story is so good, you forget about the budget. Chad Zuver wrote an amazing story and executed it perfectly. There are some rough spots in the movie, but every movie is going to have that. But the final product turned out great.

I respect the indie film community and this is a reason why. The acting was top notch all across the board. Except for one actor. Nathan Pelland was horrible and I didn't like his character at all. I'm not sure if it was from the script or the actor himself. But I couldn't stand him. Kayla Elizabeth, Vanessa Leonard, Dana Furlong, and Thomas Sloan were the glue that held the movie together. All four of them were outstanding and I want to see more of them. Kayla and Vanessa were incredibility interesting as the vampire sisters. They both of some serious acting talents.

All in all, New Blood Rising is a fun movie that everyone has to see. Who cares about the production budget for the movie. The story and acting eliminate the lack of funds. I give tons of credit to Chad Zuver for making a great movie.

My Review Of "New Blood Rising"

[ASouthernHorrorFan · 6/10 · 28 July 2014]

The story presented by Zuver with "New Blood Rising" offers a twist, placing vampire as victim (sort of) and man as violator (again-sort of). It is a view that is under-told in horror. Usually television medium is the ones focusing on the supernatural as being persecuted so it is a fresh change to see the roles flipped. The film gives a strong story arc that seems coherent and complete-a lot of indie films, especial low budget horror, tend to rush the story and loose a lot of the meat of the story. Chad Zuver as director manages to give us a clear vision that holds one's attention from start to finish.

The acting is pretty well executed, the cast show commitment to their characters, execute their lines effortlessly. True that some of the needed emotion to really sell the story falls flat at times, but for low budget/homemade style indie cinema "New Blood Rising" delivers a quality product. The action scenes didn't really have much impact, and the special effects are bare minimum. That would normally kill a film like this but considering the cast's ability to keep the story alive through drama, and dialog from start to finish I enjoyed watching is vampire flick-"New Blood Rising".

Overall the film puts out a nice story, gives a unique view on a over- tapped subject, and is entertaining. This is ultra low budget cinema with an "amateur" cast, (amateur being a relative term here because I recognized the names from a couple other projects), so if you are expecting something with high production value or effects gimmicks that dazzle then "New Blood Rising" will disappoint you. If you are a fan of low budget/homemade horror that is nicely executed, gives good story and is entertaining on a stripped down scale, then "New Blood Rising" is one of those films you will enjoy. I dug it- I recognized the vision Zuver was trying present, enjoyed the ride and felt a bit of the lost Gen-X vibe that indie film once held.

Better than expected

[tylerandmelanie382013 · 10/10 · 19 March 2014]

I have lived in northwest Ohio my entire life. I knew of a few movie companies in the area. I wasn't impressed with one that has done some zombies movies. So I didn't really know what to expect here. I saw Chad Zuver on the news and liked the trailer. My wife is a huge Twilight fan (please don't ask) and she was excited to see the movie. We went to the theater and was glad that we were able to make the first showing. The entire theater was packed.

The movie was a lot better than you would expect. The story is down right amazing and keeps you drawn into the movie. I give a lot of credit to Chad for making an interesting story. It was original and something a lot different. It felt like a breath of fresh air.

I know in indie movies, the story and acting are what drives the movie. That is exactly what New Blood Rising does. The acting is rough at some times, but a few actors stood out more than others. Kayla Elizabeth and Vanessa Leonard were terrific as the lead vampire girls. They really played the part to a tee. They both seemed perfect for the part. So it was perfect casting for the roles. I really liked Dana Furlong as the lead girl, she looked and worked the part perfection. With the Hunters, Lisa Marie and Thomas Sloan were great. Even though he had a small role, I really liked James Fite's character. I loved his small scene closer to the end of the movie. He was an enjoyable character.

The movie does have a low budget, but it didn't bother me once. My wife loved the indie feel to it. She said it worked perfectly for the movie. There was some minor issues with the movie, but I won't discredit it. We both had a great time and an awesome theater experience. It was probably one of the best times we had at a theater. Loved that Chad did a Q&A with the audience. I'm not going to hate that he didn't see my arm up.

But in all honestly. I agree with everyone that has left reviews before. This is a great movie to watch. It is by far from perfect, but it is worth your time.

I am very much looking forward to Chad's next project Night of the Living Dead.

Decent low budget movie

[martinezshelly · 6/10 · 13 May 2015]

I ordered New Blood Rising off Amazon Prime. I really didn't know what to think about a very low budget movie. I am a fan of vampire movies, but really never dived into underground independent films. So I took a chance and I'm really glad with my choice.

The best thing about New Blood Rising is the story. The story is really interesting and doesn't keep taking you into different directions. It is nice to have a plain and simple story. I thought having the vampires as the victims was a nice twist and something we really haven't seen much of. I do think the story was missing something. Like why was Brie (Dana Furlong) the one? That is something that will stick with you. I did want to know more about the history between the vampires and the hunters. Even if it was some dialogue, I just wanted to more of a history.

The acting was pretty good for unknown acting. Kayla Elizabeth (Jade) and Vanessa Leonard (Ophelia) were both the stars of the movie. I loved everything about those two on screen together. Wasn't a big fan of Dana Furlong and thought she really lacked the emotional value for her character. Honestly, I wouldv'e bought Ashley King (Julie) as Brie instead. On the guys side, I thought Thomas Sloan (Karver) was out shadowed by being paired up with Dana Furlong. If there was a more interesting girl, I wouldv'e got more behind his character. I really didn't like Archer's (Chad Zuver) character at all. He really didn't seem like a leader, more of a guy who just happen to take charge. Other than that, I don't have any other opinion on the acting.

There is a ton of questions about New Blood Rising. What was the point of Brackos? (BTW - HORRIBLE MAKEUP!) That came out of no where and ended to quickly to really understand it. Other questions - Do Hunters not age either? Why was Nathan Pelland (Bryce) so hated by his sisters? They really are small questions, but it doesn't take away from the movie.

I do have to give Chad Zuver major props for making this movie for estimated $100. I really did like the direction he had for the movie and LOVED the pacing of the movie. Everything flowed together perfectly. I really can't wait to see the sequel when that comes out. Maybe some of my questions will be answered.

New Blood Rising does have some flaws, but it is an entertaining movie. It is worth watching for story purposes and Kayla Elizabeth and Vanessa Leonard's chemistry with each other.

Must see movie

[amyhanna195 · 9/10 · 16 March 2014]

I had the privileged to check out this movie. This is without a doubt, the best non-budget movie, I've seen. The story draws you in and keeps you focused and interested in the movie. The acting is outstanding and a few of the actors stood out more than the others. I thought Kayla Elizabeth, Vanessa Leonard, Thomas Sloan, James Fite, and Ashley King were great in their roles. Kayla and Vanessa were without the best in their roles as vampire sisters.

I really didn't bother being a member of IMDb before. But after I saw this movie, I had to tell everyone about it. Everyone really needs to see this movie. This isn't a movie that will waste your time. You will have a great experience watching this.

I hope that Chad Zuver submits it the festivals here in Seattle. I go to every one, every year and I know movies. New Blood Rising could definitely win those.

Thank you Chad Zuver for making such a wonderful movie. You are really a talented director. Good luck on your projects and I will be keeping an eye on those.

New Blood Rising is worth a see

[swbulldogs2013 · 8/10 · 14 July 2014]

I have lived in Swanton, Ohio my entire life. I never knew there was a movie studio in town. I finally found out there was one, after seeing New Blood Rising. I check out the other movies from the company and I wasn't impressed at all. I noticed that the director Chad Zuver started his own company Shattered Images Films. I'm really excited to see what will happen with the future of the company. If Chad continues to make movies like New Blood Rising, he will be the best director that came from Ohio.

New Blood Rising is really a fun movie to watch. I really love the story and it is original. I'm not much of a fan of vampire movies, because they have been done to death. I think the Twilight series ruined it for me. But I went into the movie with an open movie. I didn't expect Hollywood acting or big budget effects. You will be really disappointed if you think that. You do walk away with a fun experience with the movie. You get some really good acting from Kayla Elizabeth, Vanessa Leonard, Thomas Sloan, Lisa Marie, Ashley King, and James Fite. Nothing against the other actors, I was hoping to see more of them. I do know someone that was in the movie and I won't say his name. But he was by far the worst actor in the entire movie. Kayla and Vanessa were the most interesting characters in the entire movie. It's like their parts were custom made for them. I dug Thomas Sloan as Karver and he seemed to play the underdog hero role. You won't waste your time watching New Blood Rising. It is really one of the best independent movies I've ever seen and I have see a lot of movies.

I can't wait to see more work from Chad Zuver and Shattered Images Films.

You'll have a blast!!!

[Ashdove1994 · 10/10 · 8 September 2014]

I bought New Blood Rising on IndieReign after checkout the trailer. I didn't hear anything about this. But I loved the trailer and had to see this. This was the without a doubt one of the best independent horror movies I have ever seen. I had a great time watch it and wasn't bored at all. The story is pretty simple, but is original. It really kept my interest in the movie. Along with the story, was an amazing cast. I really couldn't pinpoint who exactly was the best. So I broke them down.

Kayla Elizabeth (Jade) - One of the best performances in the movie. He role as the lead vampire in the family was beautiful. You can tell she put a lot of effort into the character. I loved Kayla's looks at other actors and her timing was spot on.

Vanessa Leonard (Ophelia) - I really did enjoy the character. I think she was a fairly interesting character. Would love to have seen more of her by herself. But her chemistry with Kayla was outstanding and brought new life to the movie.

Nathan Pelland (Bryce) - I hate to say this. But he was the worst actor of the entire bunch. I'm not sure really what he was doing half the time. He was wrong for the part and didn't even fit in the movie. Him being on screen totally ruined any scene he was in. Thankfully, he was paired up with better actors that helped carry the scene.

Thomas Sloan (Karver) - This kid has some talent. The way he showed emotion, you really feel it as a viewer. I see big things coming from him in the future. I want to see other movies he has done, because he was my favorite guy in the movie.

Dana Furlong (Brie) - Dana plays your typical teenager that you see in every movie. Even though she was pretty good in the movie. She doesn't stand out from the rest of the cast.

Chad Zuver (Archer) - I'm not a fan of directors being in their own movies. I can say the same thing about Tarantino and Affleck. But Chad was pretty good as the leader of the Hunters. He gave a strong performance. But what his true talent was writing and directing of the movie. Chad did a fantastic job telling the story and keeping a nice pace to the movie. LOVED IT! I can't wait to see more of his work.

Lisa Marie (Riley) - I really really liked her. But it sucks that she wasn't in the movie long enough. I wanted to see more of her. I'm looking forward to seeing more of her work. She was a bad ass character.

Allan Meyette (Father) - I don't remember his name in the movie. I don't really think it was brought up. He was 50/50 to me. I did enjoy his interactions with Dana and Ashley.

Ashley King (Julie) - She was really good as the older sister. I LOVED her chemistry with Dana. It really did seem like they were really sisters.

James Fite (Jesse) - James was pretty good, for having a small role. I wish his character had more screen time. Especially more by himself.

Jesse Younkman (Ash) - Not really much to say about him. He served h is purpose and did his thing. I couldn't really get any interest with him.

New Blood Rising is a great movie to watch.

Failing as a horror movie, New Blood Rising manages to be a enjoyable comedy

[pentakinicholas · 8/10 · 13 March 2014]

New Blood isn't the only thing rising when watching this film---laughter is bubbling over. Harshly put, New Blood Rising fails to terrify or disgust its viewers, falling short of any ambitions as a horror movie. However, combining the poor video and audio quality kitsch of low-budget movies, a mix of acting ranging from excellent to poor, an interesting plot premise, and the questionable make-up decisions of Brackos, New Blood Rising manages to create a highly entertaining and comedic "anti- horror movie."

The premise of the plot---vampires dying out---is somewhat interesting, but the exposition of this idea across the movie is rather choppy, with short intense action scenes interspersed with long periods of drawn out scenes and information dumps. Many scenes begin to feel like unnecessary space fillers. The choppiness increases towards the end when events within minutes of each other jump between bright sunlight and complete night.

The actors range from excellent---Brie's sister played a highly convincing role---to poor, but their main problem lies in the dialogue of the characters and the vague character development. Dialogue is highly unnatural and stilted, burdened with a preponderance of endless cursing. Characters are poorly defined, and rocket from one personality to another in the same scene.

Overall, I would highly recommend seeing this film, so long as you go into watching it with the mindset that it is a comedy and not expecting a genuinely terrifying horror movie. Treating the film in this way turns many of its flaws into comedic strengths, and, if seen with others willing to look at the film in the same way, could be one of the most wonderful experiences of watching a movie that you have ever had.

You'll have a blast watching this.

[leah-patry1122 · 9/10 · 30 March 2014]

I bought the DVD on a whim after watching the trailer. The story seemed original and interesting. I loved the take on the vampires being a dying breed. Knowing that this was an independent movie and had no budget, I still had a fantastic time watching it. I don't regret buying the movie at all. I'm a big fan of vampire movies. I really think this is a lot better than some of the big budget movies. The director Chad Zuver has a unique gift for a small time director. He does have a lot of talent. It's amazing that he never went to film school. I know its not unheard of, but he is really talented.

The three main vampires were pretty good. Kayla Elizabeth was without a doubt the best in the entire movie. The way she delivered her lines were spot on. She seemed like she was perfect for the role as Jade. Vanessa Leonard was really good as Ophelia. It's a shame she was on screen with Kayla for a good portion. But when she was by herself, she was excellent. I really would like to see more from both of them. Nathan Pelland in my opinion was the worst one out of the cast. He seemed out of place and really has no acting range. What is up with his outfit? I don't get it and it didn't fit the character of Bryce at all. I think James Fite would have been the perfect Bryce, instead of Jesse. James was really good and I wanted to see more screen time from him.

Onto the Hunters, Thomas Sloan was the star of the group. This kid has some serious acting talent. You really feel the emotion he goes through. Lisa Marie was also one of those characters that I wanted to see more screen time from. Chad Zuver was serviceable as Archer. I'm not a big fan of directors acting in their films. But for a small independent movie, I think he did a good job.

Dana Furlong was without a doubt perfect for the role as the young girl. I'm not sure if she was or not. But I could see some nervousness from her on screen. Not sure if was Chad's goal or not. But it played out perfectly for her role.

Rebekka Daniel, Molly Sute, Ashley King, Allan Meyette, and Jesse Younkman were all great in their roles. I really liked the combo with Rebekka and Molly. Ashley and Dana had some great chemistry with each other.

If you want to watch a movie with a fantastic story, this is the one you want to see. New Blood Rising is a great movie and you will have a blast with it. I like that you never get feel bored watching it. The pace of the movie flows together beautifully.

Everyone should see this movie.

Jesse is so hot <3

[Austin0725 · 10/10 · 12 February 2015]

First off I have to say this the best movie I have seen. The plot line was extremely amazing. Although the movie sucked at being a horror film, it made for a funny comedy for all ages. I wish they wouldn't have killed off that Ash character. The actor who played Ash was very hot and should have been the lead vampire hunter because like I said he's so hot. I would love to get to know him and go to school with him. I have never seen a guy so beautiful. If I was a girl I would definitely be his girlfriend. I hope he decides to be in more movies because I will definitely go see them. I am his biggest fan and I just want him to notice me. He is hot. I'm really sad that he was killed off so soon in the movie, I would have given him mouth to mouth if I was in it because he is very hot. Jesse you are so hot. Please be gay so we can be together forever. You are hot. I love you!

Pretty good indie vampire flick

[DarylJGittings · 8/10 · 5 September 2023]

I'm pretty sure this is the first Chad Zuver movie that I have seen.

I really didn't have high expectations for New Blood Rising. I had been debating on watching it for the last month or so. This evening I finally took the plunge.

New Blood Rising is a low budget independent horror film. The cast includes Dana Furlong, Alan Meyette, Thomas Sloan, Kayla Elizabeth, and Vanessa Leonard.

A group of "hunters" most protect a teenage girl from a group of vampires. Apparently the teenagers blood is needed to bring on a vampire army that can take over the world. At about 80 minutes, the movie is well paced. It's much better than the 3.8 rating. The cast is strong. Some people have harshly criticized Dana Furlong's acting skills. I thought she was good. Thomas Sloan was good as well, other than a cameo in "Pi Day, Die Day", I hadn't seen Mr. Sloan in a film before. Favorites of the Ohio indie scene, Kayla Elizabeth and Vanessa Leonard are great as usual.

If you enjoy vampire flicks that aren't too gory check this out. I look forward to seeing New Blood Awakening soon. My favorite indie actress is in the sequel, so I'm stoked for it.