When I reviewed Erik Bloomquist’s debut feature, Long Lost, I was pleasantly surprised and found myself already looking forward to his next outing, TEN MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT. I had the chance to see it this past week and, oh wow, was I not disappointed. This is a quirky, funny, creepy, gory, poignant film that I keep thinking about over the last few days.

Amy Marlowe (scream queen Caroline Williams) is a late-night radio DJ for a punk rock station where she’s worked for the last thirty years. On the way to work, she’s bitten by a bat, and then her night starts to go bad. There’s a hurricane approaching and solar flares affecting the broadcast. What’s worse, security guard Ernie (Nicholas Tucci, You’re Next, Long Lost) worries she’s got rabies, her sleazeball boss Robert (William Youmans) introduces her to her college-graduate replacement Sienna (Nicole Kang, Batwoman), and her sound engineer Aaron (Seth Weppler, Long Lost) might just be a Judas.

Besides some (wisely used) flashbacks and call-ins, the film basically consists of these five characters spending the night in a radio station while a storm keeps them from leaving. It’s a very simple set-up, but the story, and character dynamics, are anything but.

If you’ve seen Long Lost, you might draw thematic parallels between the two. Both films explore identity in very different ways. In Long Lost, you have half-brothers who have never met trying to form a bond across an age and wealth disparity, and in Ten Minutes to Midnight, Amy struggles with separating herself from her work, and understanding other people’s motives. When a caller tells Amy that she’s never seen Amy in person but feels like she knows her and how strange that can be – feeling like you know strangers – Amy points out the reverse may be true – not knowing people you see every day.

While there’s no weak link in the supporting cast (and some of them are put through some acting hoops for sure), this is a showcase of Caroline Williams’ talent. She’s long been a fan favorite for starring as Stretch (another radio DJ) in Texas Chainsaw Massacre II, and she was my favorite part of Hatchet III, so it’s just plain fun seeing her take center stage and owning the screen.

But don’t be fooled. This isn’t just a character study with some quirky laughs, there is death and destruction. The movie is firmly horror and includes some fantastically unnerving cinematography.

Troy’s Takeaway: The ambiguity of the narrative may leave some viewers put-off. Does Amy have rabies? Was she bitten by a vampire? Is something else going on? The uncertainty can be frustrating, but others will find it engaging. If you prioritize character over plot, this is a movie to sink your teeth into (sorry, couldn’t resist). I say give Ten Minutes to Midnight a watch, then give it another watch. I don’t know what Erik Bloomquist is working on next, but I’m looking forward to it.

Ten Minutes to Midnight is fresh off a successful drive-in run and limited virtual screenings. It will receive a traditional VOD/Digital release in January, 2021.