Having writers as protagonists is a long-standing tradition in the horror genre, with Stephen King being largely responsible for this trope’s boost in popularity over the years. While some critics argue that these characters are nothing more than bland author surrogates, the idea has some merit to it. Creative people are the perfect choice for stories that deal with the unsettling fusion of fiction and reality, and David Pulbrook’s slow-burn Australian thriller Bad Blood is definitely one of these.

Starring Xavier Samuel as Vincent, a successful novelist who is milking the success of his first book as he’s reluctant to start a new one, Bad Blood chronicles the author’s struggles as his relationship with his fiancé Carrie (Morgan Griffin) is threatened by a mysterious stranger. With his life slowly spiraling out of control, Vincent must confront his own dark past in order to be rid of this deadly yet familiar threat.

On the surface, this setup shares a few similarities with other thrillers like Secret Window and Enemy, but the film goes in a much more literal direction. I can’t say much without spoiling the movie’s plentiful twists and turns, but the script isn’t quite as original or smart as it presents itself to be. There isn’t much here that hasn’t been seen before, and most of the story beats are predictable, though that doesn’t necessarily ruin the experience.

Despite its narrative flaws, this is still a well-executed film, with some intense chase sequences and some atmospheric locations, not to mention at least a few effective surprises in store. The main characters are also unexpectedly well rounded and likable, though that’s mostly due to Xavier and Morgan’s excellent chemistry. The rest of the cast doesn’t really have much to work within the way of character depth or motivations, but the script is to blame here, not the actors.

Bad Blood would be an exceedingly average thriller with a clever but mostly uninspired story and a few great performances were it not for the hair-raising final act, where things take a turn for the worst and all tension goes through the roof. These exciting final moments can only be described as an extended chase sequence comparable to that in the best slasher movies, and are what elevate the film, making it recommendable despite lacking more memorable moments.

Ultimately, Pulbrook’s film is still worth a watch if you can stomach a mostly by-the-numbers thriller until you reach the surprisingly exhilarating conclusion. With a few tweaks to the script (and perhaps a greater focus on the homicidal mystery behind Vincent’s plight), this could have been a great flick. As it stands, Bad Blood is competently and a fun time, but not much else.

Bad Blood will be playing in select Cinemark theaters on October 12^th as a part of Thursday Nights at The Asylum!