Review of Bleeder (1999) by Alex R — 18 Jun 2014

Bleeder is a tense, riveting drama with a great story, memorable cast and is an engrossing film from start to finish. Refn is a great filmmaker, and he proved that with Pusher, which was his debut feature, and he follows that up with this picture, which I would personally describe as a decent into madness.

Brilliantly shot, Refn has a strong sense of style that makes his films unique, and with Bleeder, he delivers a picture that has a simple, yet effective storyline as less is more, and Refn, uses that approach to filmmaking quite well in order to make truly standout films.

Some may find his work polarizing, and with good reason, but for fans of Pusher, this is a brilliant second feature that solidifies his talents as a filmmaker, and with a great cast at his disposal, he delivers an astounding picture that breaks new ground in terms of filmmaking.

I thoroughly enjoy filmmakers that tend to use simple ideas, concept to tell a good story through their camera lens, and Nicolas Winding Refn is a filmmaker that uses that to an extent that makes his films truly standout.

Bleeder, like I stated before is a fine follow up to Pusher, and he uses the bare miniu8m to tell a great story. What ends up on-screen is a highly captivating drama that is bold, atmospheric, tense, and exceptionally well acted and directed.

Bleeder is a terrific film, a film that is thoroughly engaging, and it's a work of a director who can craft a stunning, compelling and ultimately memorable drama. Bleeder is not a perfect film, and it's Nicolas Winding Refn finest film either, but it definitely is a skillfully crafted picture from a wonderful filmmaker who can tell truly engaging and entertaining stories.