Blu-ray Review: Flora

Mill Creek Ent., NOT RATED; 100 minutes; Amazon

Now available on Blu-ray + Digital from Mill Creek Entertainment is 2017's science fiction horror film Flora. Written and directed by Sasha Louis Vukovic, the film stars Teresa Marie Doran, Sari Mercer, Miles G. Jackson, and Caleb Noel.

The low-budget film has been an "Official Selection" in over 10 International Film Festivals.

Flora centers around a group of Ivy League botanists students going on a months-long expedition in a forest. Soon after their arrival, they learn that their professor has disappeared, leaving them with the choice of staying or leaving to get help.

To make a somewhat long story short, the students have no choice but to stay at their camp. It seems there's a deadly organism growing in the forest and if you eat it or breathe it in, you'll quickly die.

The students must either work together to find a cure or find a way to escape the horrors of the forest.

Special Features include:

Behind-the-Scenes Featurette
Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Commentary with Sasha Louis Vukovic, Teresa Marie Doran, and Dan Lin

I recall reading a few articles about Flora when the film was being released to theaters. While it was getting quite a bit attention at film festivals, it was getting mixed feedback from horror fans. Nevertheless, I was still interested in watching the movie and I finally got to do so when it arrived on Blu-ray.

With an unknown cast and a director who I had never heard of before, my expectations where quite low when I started watching the film. It's set in the summer of 1929, which is probably a first for a modern-made horror flick. (I'm guessing!). For me, the film was a very slow burner and it took me awhile to get into the story. The acting is pretty decent and the special effects isn't too bad for the film's obvious low-budget.

The picture & sound quality is excellent on the Blu-ray. There are a few special features, including a commentary; which is something some Blu-rays have been lacking recently.

Overall, Flora is a well-made psychological horror science fiction hybrid. It's one of those movies that I liked, but I probably wouldn't watch it more than once. If you haven't seen Flora yet, it would make in intriguing watch for Halloween.