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‘In Our Blood’ Review: A Murky Mystery of Disappearances In a Southwestern Community

'In Our Blood,' Pedro Kos’ first fiction feature, makes good use of real-life settings and personalities, but its horror narrative falls short.

Though a notch above the subgenre’s norm in terms of acting and production polish, documentarian Pedro Kos ’ first narrative feature — in which two filmmakers investigate mysterious disappearances around Las Cruces, New Mexico — ultimately teases expectations too long en route to an underwhelming resolution. With overt horror elements delayed until the last 20 minutes or so, the film ends up feeling like an attenuated prologue for a series in the general conceptual (if not budgetary) wheelhouse of “Blade” or “Underworld.” But it’s anyone’s guess whether this Fantasia premiere will spark the kind of enthusiasm that merits a single follow-up, let alone several. Sam herself says a close friend recently went missing, then was found dead, adding, “I know it could have been me instead of her.” There’s a vehement defensiveness to community members’ reluctance to be filmed, despite permission granted by frostily composed chief administrator Ana (Krisha Fairchild).

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