Francis, a 115-year-old Yiddish vampire, still looks 35. He’s been roaming American backroads in his beat-up muscle car for decades, keeping to himself, and liking it that way. One day, a teenage kid, Jane, shows up. She says she’s his daughter, and she’s got the fangs to prove it. They go on the road, deciding whether to sink their teeth into family life.

For in-depth thoughts on Blood Relatives, please see my colleague Devin McGrath-Conwell’s review from its original streaming debut here.

Video Quality

The film debuts on Blu-Ray with a 1080p presentation in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio that is very easy on the eyes thanks to a steady transfer. Due to the nature of vampire movies, a lot of this movie takes place at night, but this disc handles it very well with only occasional signs of banding. There is a nominal loss of detail during some of the roaming shots in the shadows. Most won’t find it to be a significant issue. The transfer provides admirable black levels that do not stumble with crush or other shortcomings. There is no distracting damage or digital noise to impede this transfer.

The movie has a subdued color palette that is consistently saturated with distinct hues. Some colors stand out more on screen, such as certain lighting elements and fabrics. We are more compelled by the detail and clarity at hand. The subtle facets on display, especially in the background design elements and makeup effects, are overflowing with vital textures. Shudder has handled this well on Blu-Ray.

Audio Quality

Blood Relatives arrives on Blu-Ray with a strong DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that translates everything as desired. While not particularly action-packed, the movie opens up when the narrative calls for it, and environmental sounds provide a steady, assured atmosphere. Surround channels provide some welcome activity with key interiors and other developments throughout the narrative. There is a premium placed on dialogue, and every exchange comes through quite confidently. All words and sound effects stay deftly balanced throughout. The track’s low end provides some enviable texture. All elements play well with the music, where nothing gets drowned out in the track. The track earns great marks from beginning to end. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Writer/Director/Actor Noah Segan and actress Victoria Moroles provide a track that delivers great insights into the production process, working with the bit players, the shooting locations, the larger thematic ideas, world-building sprinkled throughout the background, and more.

Making Of Featurette: A 15-minute piece in which the cast and creative team talk about the themes of the story, why they wanted to tackle this project, how they wanted to tackle the vampire genre differently, and more.

Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery

Deleted Scenes: A six-minute selection of unused material is provided here.

Original Trailers (2:43)
Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring the essay “Thicker Than Water: Blood, Identity, and Family in Blood Relatives” from film critic Molly Henery is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis of the themes of the film.

Final Thoughts

Blood Relatives is a true gem of a feature debut from Noah Segan. The film puts a delightful spin on your typical vampire tale without forgetting some of the gory hallmarks that make the genre so much fun. The script is very clever as it introduces rich thematic context that keeps the film from feeling light or disposable. This pairs well with the familial aspect that brings warmth when things could potentially skew more dour. It is a tricky tightrope that Segan walks confidently both behind the camera and on screen. This one deserves more eyes on it. Shudder has released a Blu-Ray featuring a pleasant A/V presentation and a nice assortment of special features. Recommended

Blood Relatives is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Shudder and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.