"In Our Blood" Is A Haunting Debut That Bleeds Ambition More Than Fear

Pedro Kos takes a bold swing with *In Our Blood*, a horror-drama that is equal parts haunting and heartfelt, though not without its missteps.

The film centers on Emily (Brittany O’Grady), a young filmmaker who returns to her hometown of Las Cruces, New Mexico, to reconnect with her estranged mother, Sam (Alanna Ubach). Their uneasy Thanksgiving reunion quickly turns eerie when Sam vanishes, prompting Emily and her friend Danny (E.J. Bonilla) to delve into a mystery filled with guilt, memory, and buried secrets.

Kos, best known for his documentary work, brings that same sense of realism to his first narrative feature. His camera lingers on emotions rather than spectacle, capturing the characters’ experiences in a raw and impactful way. Camilo Monsalve Ossa's cinematography provides an intimate grounding for the supernatural tension, even when the story occasionally risks drifting into abstract territory.

Brittany O’Grady delivers a sharp, nuanced performance, balancing fear and fragility, while Ubach provides the film with its emotional core. Their scenes crackle with authentic conflict, making you wish the movie would maintain its focus on their dynamic, rather than sometimes straying into metaphor.

Mallory Westfall's script aims high by addressing themes of addiction, recovery, and the ethics of turning pain into art. However, at times, the message overshadows the momentum. While the film’s social commentary is thoughtful, it can feel overly self-aware, as if it is hesitant to embrace its horror elements fully. By the time the twist arrives, it’s more intriguing than shocking, prompting admiration for its ambition even if the execution feels shaky.

*In Our Blood* deserves recognition for attempting something different. The film is moody, beautifully shot, and undeniably sincere, but its ideas sometimes outpace its storytelling. Kos shows promise as a narrative director; however, this debut feels like a filmmaker still discovering his balance between documentary sensitivity and horror's intensity.

Final Grade: C+

"In Our Blood" is RELEASING THEATRICALLY NATIONWIDE OCTOBER 24, 2025