Midlands Review of Blood Money
midlandsmovies • November 15, 2020
Blood Money
Directed by Liam Banks
2020
Superfreak Media
Blood Money is the latest short from Superfreak Media, the Nottingham-based powerhouse with a love for all that goes bump in the night.
Having just pulled off a daring and murderous bank robbery, Andi (Jessica Messenger) washes off her victims’ blood in a sleazy motel bathroom. After finding an ominous occult symbol under one of the wall tiles, along with the name Mammon, she’s attacked by a demonic presence and quickly discovers that there’s more than a grain of truth in the old adage ‘crime doesn’t pay’…
At just over 10 minutes, this film packs a punch. It gets in, makes with the scares and gets out, knowing not to overstay its welcome. Writer/Director Liam Banks makes the most of the limited setting, creating clever chills with the tub and mirrors and shower curtains to great effect so it never feels static. Once the demonic shit hits the fan, it’s a thrill-ride right to the bloody finish.
One thing that immediately struck me was the film’s visual aesthetic. Between the grimy yellow filter and the grainy footage, it felt like this film has leapt straight out of the late 70s or early 80s; it wouldn’t be at all out of place among the video nasties and grindhouse classics of those eras. The sudden jarring appearance of a smartphone, thoroughly cementing the setting as modern day, is disorienting but not enough to break immersion. If anything, it just adds to the Weirdness of it all.
Messenger doesn’t quite convince me as the type who’d rob a bank and kill the customers, but she does a damn fine job of being terrorised by the demon Mammon and really sells the terror that Andi feels as she reaps what she’s sown. Matthew Barker’s performance as Mammon was great, and the makeup effects by Monica Montalvo were mostly superb – Mammon is a very scary presence, and every minute he was on-screen (even if it’s just his slowly creeping hands) had me chilled.
Props also go to Jenn Day as a news reporter who bookends the film and provides it with its sinister final lines, and Cohen Day as an extremely creepy ghost child – a tiny role, but not one I’m likely to forget!
Blood Money is great fun. It’s a seedy, scuzzy little bucket of blood, lovingly served up for horror fans to guzzle down. If you’re still clinging to Halloween even as Christmas creeps ever closer, definitely check this one out!
Sam Kurd
Twitter @splend
On Sunday 26th April Midlands Movies Editor Michael Sales & awards ceremony co-host Ed Stagg (BBC Radio) announced the nominations for the 2026 Midlands Movies Awards live from the Queen of Bradgate Vintage Cinema in Leicester. A big thanks was given to the entire Jury Panel of industry experts who gave up their precious time to watch a huge selection of creative projects and as always, had a difficult time choosing from the excellent number of films from the region. You can read the full list of nominations across all 16 categories below and watch our announcement videos here: Part 1 & Part 2 And please also check out our great awards partner Chrome Video Best Actress in a Leading Role Karendip Phull for Family Kate Bracken for The Lace Rachel Baker for Throwing Fruit Chloe Wade for How Long Sophie Bullock for Ma Prison Best Animated Film Of All the Things by Steff Lee Big Red by James Pyle Statue in the Garden by Qianhui Yu Butterfly by Jacob Christie Best Director Luke Worrall for The Waterline Lily Portman for Quiet Jack Richardson for Daniel’s Room Jonathan Hawes for Sorry We’re Closed Sophia Dall'Aglio for Man from Mars Best Documentary Nothing's Impossible by Jacob Thomas McClean A Birmingham Symphony by Jemma Saunders We Bring Light: Leicester's Diwali Legacy by Kieran Vyas The Sunshine Café by Jill Lampert Through the Viewfinder by William North Best Sound (Editing or Mixing) Neil Evans & his team for Artificial Insanity Alasdair Gretton for Dead on Distribution Deepanjali Patel for Earworm David Hamilton-Smith for The Pause Heidi Wilson for Of All The Things Best Actor in a Supporting Role Devon Junior for Lazar Tim Sparrow for Safety Net Shaiek Ahmed Rana for Family Luke Rollason for Quiet Peter Willoughby for A Story of Spring Best Visual & Special Effects Jake Wesley-Worrall for Soul Trader Steve Askey & team for The Correction Unit Nick Willett, Matt Burkey & Jayne Hyman for Black Goat JaqD SFX MUA, Mind Magic Studios and Ben Harker for Beyond the Witching Hour Jacob Christie for Countenance Best Cinematography Gary Rogers for The Pause Laurence Mason-Guetta for Sorry We’re Closed Ian Snape for Soul Trader Ash Connaughton for Daniel’s Room Duane Adamoli for Surfing (nominations continue below...)
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