Blood Quantum is a horror movie directed by Jeff Barnaby and released in 2019. The film is set in the isolated Mi'gMaq reserve of Red Crow, where the local Indigenous population discovers that they are immune to a zombie plague that has inexplicably broken out all across the world. As a result, they become the only defense against an impending zombie apocalypse that threatens the rest of the world.
The plot follows Traylor, the local sheriff of Red Crow, and his estranged son Joseph, as they team up with Joss, the local doctor, and her infected ex-husband, Lysol, to help protect the reservation from the outside world, and more importantly, the growing horde of zombie-like creatures threatening to overrun their land.
As the outbreak spreads, other survivors, including a pregnant white woman and her racist partner, seek refuge on the reserve, causing tensions to rise amongst the already-fractured community. The film explores themes of colonization, racism, and identity, as the Indigenous population struggles to survive against a worldwide pandemic, while also protecting their own way of life and culture.
With striking cinematography and a pulse-pounding soundtrack, Blood Quantum is a unique take on the zombie genre that offers a fresh perspective on issues of decolonization, survival, and cultural identity.
