A Part of Shudders Queer horror season What Keeps You Alive is a dark tale of broken love and violence as married couple Jackie and Jules head out to Jackie's family cabin in the middle of nowhere to enjoy some time alone together. Now the fact we are being taken to the middle of nowhere is 100% a warning sign right? cabins in the wood are never a good thing but at first all seems perfect for the young couple. When an old friend turns up at the cabin however Jackie's backstory is thrown into a bit of a panic.
Jules tries to forget about it and enjoy the time they are spending together, the go shooting, the go for a walk by a cliff edge ANNNNND Jackie goes Janine Butcher on Jules (British soap refrence for the UK readers there). Confused Jules begins to learn the true evil nature of her wife as Jackie starts hunting her down to finish what she started.
The push I didn't see coming, I thought the childhood friend might be the problem here but even she thinks Jackie is a psychopath, this leads to a violent end to Sarah and her husband Daniel of course. You see the subtle breaking of Jackie even from the early goings. I adore the song Bloodlet which Jackie is singing acoustic to Jules. The song is a chilling folk song which definitely fits they overall feeling in the film.
Hannah Emily Anderson is brilliant in this, her portrayal of Jackie and her different personality traits make your blood run cold, the way she switches between sweet caring wife and the woman who is going to end you is what keeps you going in a film which struggles a little with pacing at times. I wasn't expecting this plot, thinking more home invasion than kill your spouse by killing them but I liked it. I also am a huge fan of the soundtrack, I have been humming Bloodlet for bloody days.
It has a slow build, action, slow build then a brilliant final act which keeps you moving though this one even as I started the clock watch on occasion.