Bloat (film)
2025 film From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bloat is a 2025 Japanese-American[1] screenlife horror film written and directed by Pablo Absento in his film directorial debut.[2][3] It stars Ben McKenzie, Bojana Novakovic, Sawyer Jones, Malcolm Fuller and Kane Kosugi.[4] The film is about a mother and her two sons vacationing in Japan when she feels something is wrong with her younger son after he almost drowns in a lake.[5][6][7]
 | This section needs a plot summary. (March 2025) |
| Bloat | |
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Official release poster | |
| Directed by | Pablo Absento |
| Written by | Pablo Absento |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Denis Saprykin |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Fedor Pereverzeb |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by |
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Release date |
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Running time | 86 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Languages | English Japanese |
Plot
The film follows a mother who becomes convinced that her son is possessed after returning from a vacation in Japan.
Cast
- Ben McKenzie as Jack[8]
- Bojana Novakovic as Hannah[8]
- Sawyer Jones as Kyle
- Malcolm Fuller as Steve
- Kane Kosugi as Ryan
- Ethan Herschenfeld as Judge Richard Resnick
- Asha Etchison as Reporter
- David Gibson as Jack's Father
- Rebecca Nelson as Jack's Mother
- James Adam Lim as Police Officer #2
- Miyu Yokota as Sakura
- David Lavine as Forensic Expert
- Larry Bull as Defense Attorney
- Jeff Applegate as Col. William Bradley
- Akiyo Komatsu as Officer Ikeda
- Zack Niizato as Doctor
Production
Pulsar Content and XYZ Films teamed up to handle sales on Bloat. The film is an international co-production between Bazelevs Company and Flag Co. Ltd.[9][10]
Written and directed by Pablo Absento, filming began in New York City and wrapped in Tokyo in October. The post-production was completed in mid 2023. The film marks the second collaboration of Bazelevs Company and Pulsar Content.[9]
Release
The film was released in theaters and VOD on March 7, 2025,[11] under Lionsgate.[12][13][14]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 31% of 13 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.30/10.[15] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 40 out of 100, based on four critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[16]
Nathaniel Muir of AIPT gave the film a negative feedback and he wrote; A straightforward telling would have provided more tension while an increased focus on characters would have given audiences something to care about. By the time the final credits have rolled, Bloat has failed to leave any sort of impression.[17]
Hannah Rose of CBR gave the film a rating of 5 over 10 and she said; Bloat could have been a showstopper and an instant classic. As it is, the screenlife presentation waterlogs this otherwise good story.[18] giving a 1 and half star Marya E. Gates of RogerEbert.com wrote; Despite a fiery penultimate scene, Absento’s film ends with a courtroom whimper.[19]
References
External links
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