Wellwood is the feature-length debut of both its director, Eliza Hooper, and the screenwriter, Reid Collums. The science fiction thriller stars Collums as Nick, who just married the love of his life, Laura (Camille Balsamo). Things start a bit patchy though, as when the newlyweds get into their Uber for their honeymoon spot, she tells him that she’s tired of the treatments and whatnot for her cancer. This understandably catches Nick off guard, and to make matters worse, due to the overwhelming nature of their big day, Laura is off to slumberland before the marriage can be consummated.
“…he has to try and get his wife to ingest enough of the alien’s blood to cure her.”
The next day, Laura says sorry, not just for falling asleep, but for ambushing Nick with such monumental news at the wedding reception. Nick agrees it wasn’t the best place for the news, but wants whatever she thinks is best. However, he’s playing his cards close to his vest, as Nick is confident he’s discovered the cure. See, the previous night, as Laura slept, Nick stumbled across a crashed alien ship and its inhabitant, whom he presumed was dead. But the extraterrestrial came back to life, and that is when Nick realizes its blood gives life. Now, he has to try to get his wife to ingest enough of the alien’s blood to cure her. But what are the consequences of putting alien blood into one’s body?
Wellwood, originally titled Alien Lifeblood, gets a lot right. Nick and Laura are definitely in love; that is not in question. Collums and Balsamo are perfect together, having the right amount of chemistry to pull off their characters’ love while selling the reservations of their future together. Individually, the two give strong performances as well. He sells Nick’s desperate need to save Laura with absolute conviction. Balsamo plays the hardship of what she must live with and accept as if this is the most searing drama of all time.
"…there's enough good here, especially the alien suit's design, to make this an easy recommendation."
