Slasher Flesh & Blood Review: Family Conflict Can Be Deadly

Release date: August 12, 2021 Running time: 45 minute episodes Directed By: Adam MacDonald Starring: David Cronenberg, Paula Brancati, Jefferson Brown, Patrice Goodman, Sabrina Grdevich, Christopher Jacot, Rachael Crawford, Sydney Meyer, Alex Ozerov, Jeananne Goosen

Slasher: Flesh & Blood follows a wealthy, dysfunctional family that gathers for a reunion on a secluded island only to learn they’ll be pitted against one another in a cruel game of life and death, all while being stalked by a mysterious masked killer. Nothing is what it seems and no one is safe as the tension – and body count – ratchets up.

Slasher: Flesh & Blood starts with a dysfunctional family reunion, taking a cast of characters that are all related but are hardly family. There is infighting, intrigue, false pretenses, and everything in between. The series has a very Knives Out feel to it--with a cast of characters that are all related but also vying and backstabbing each other--except for the fact that there is a very real killer on the loose who is targeting members of the family. Whereas Knives Out had one death and more quirk, this has many deaths, more torture, and a drier sense of humor. I really liked seeing the characters and their interactions as they reacquainted themselves with each other and then began this strange competition that drew them all together.

And the cast of Slasher Flesh & Blood is definitely a diverse, quirky set. I liked seeing all their different places in the family and their concerns. Each character has something in their past that has alienated them from the rest of their counterparts, and the series does a good job of exposing those. And the story of Slasher develops slowly; it doesn't instantly jump you into the horror aspects but give you some time to get acquainted with the characters. It takes its time to let you get to know the different relationships and past actions of this family. And as this is a horror series, there are also some gruesome sequences and good practical effects. The first few episodes had aspects of traditional slasher films but also a saw like torture device made its appearance. Just like the family, the method of dispatch seems to be varied as well.

The series does have some unrealistic movement and poor decisions by the characters, but it's a horror series so its not that distracting. But I really enjoyed watching a well made family drama that also has a horror aspect to it. Overall, Slasher Flesh & Blood has a Knives Out feel, with less comedy and more murder, gathering an interesting set of characters for a grueling, gruesome, and deadly family reunion.

Watch it.

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Slasher Flesh & Blood is available to stream on Shudder starting August 12, 2021.