Shining A Spotlight On Blumhouse’s Prime Video Anthological Horror Story Themed Around The Unlikely Source – BINGO!

Synopsis 

The fifth installment of the Welcome to the Blumhouse movie series, Bingo Hell is an anthological horror story themed around perhaps the most unlikely source - bingo! 

Today, bingo has seen a digital revolution, with many live bingo games available to play online. Players can find different gameplay and features such as bingo games with chat rooms that best suit their playing style. Bingo enthusiasts choose a live room such as Cash Cubes, Age of the Gods Bingo, or Diamond Room. The games are hosted in real time by a real bingo caller, allowing players the opportunity to interact with one another and the host for an authentic and immersive casino experience. 

However, traditionally, bingo players would have to head down to their local bingo hall to engage in the game. These places were locations where like minded people could interact locally - something that the digital games aim to do on a larger scale. And it is one of these bingo halls that is the crooks of our story.

Bingo Hell follows a group of elderly friends made up of several strong and stubborn characters, who all live in the Barrio of Oak Springs, who refuse to let themselves or their neighbourhood be gentrified. 

Led by the incomparable Lupita (Adriana Barraza), the crew love to frequent their local bingo hall, owned by small-time local businessman and widower, Mario (David Jensen). Whilst vape shops, microbreweries and hipster coffee hangouts are taking over, through their time in their beloved bingo hall, the group have become like family to one another, giving further meaning to the building. 

Unfortunately for them, the bingo hall is about to be sold - and this one decision turns the bingo hall into bingo hell. 

This hell? Mr Big's Bingo, complete with LCD screens, casino-style gameplay, and mysterious supernatural forces beyond comprehension...

Whilst the first four installments of the horror series centred around family and love, the next four (of which Bingo Hell was the first release) tackle institutional horrors and personal phobias, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

Source: Pixabay

With this in mind, Bingo Hell appears to be a critique on the perception of material success in comparison to success in tradition and longstanding relationships. The film is hailed as a horror comedy, the gore and thrill uplifted with effortlessly smooth one-liners. The satirical tone certainly adds to the beliefs that it intends to critique, pulling out the humourous and horrifying ridiculousness of society. 

Though Bingo Hell has had its fair share of mixed reviews, the movie is an interesting watch, particularly thanks to the creativity and distinctive style of the writer and director, Gigi Saul Guerrero. 

Bingo Hell was first screened at Fantastic Fest, before being released to the general public shortly after. Bingo Hell, along with all other installments of the Welcome to the Blumhouse franchise, are available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. 

Release Date 

September 24, 2021 at Fantastic Fest 

October 1, 2021 general release 

Director 

Gigi Saul Guerrero 

Writer 

Gigi Saul Guerrero, Shane McKenzie, and Perry Blackshear 

Company 

Production by Blumhouse Television and Luchagore Productions 

Distributed by Amazon Studios

Genre 

Horror, Comedy 

Cert 

15 

Cast 

Adriana Barraza 

1. Scott Caldwell

Joshua Caleb Johnson