Blood Creek (also known as Town Creek) is a 2009 supernatural horror-thriller directed by Joel Schumacher. Combining Nazi occultism, dark family secrets, and a grim revenge story, this movie blends horror with action in a surprisingly tense way. It’s not your typical vampire movie — it’s part World War II mystery, part creature feature, and part brutal survival story.
Detailed Summary
Opening: The Nazi Arrival
The story begins in 1936, when a German professor named Richard Wirth (played by Michael Fassbender) arrives at the Wollner family farm in rural West Virginia. He claims to be an archaeologist studying ancient Viking runes and stones. However, his real motive is far darker — he’s part of the Nazi SS occult division, sent to harness the power of a rune-covered stone that supposedly grants immortality and supernatural strength through blood rituals.
The Corruption of the Wollners
Wirth quickly manipulates the unsuspecting Wollner family, forcing them to participate in his occult experiments. He begins sacrificing animals — and eventually humans — to unlock the stone’s power. When the family realizes the horror of what he’s doing, they trap him inside the basement, sealing him away with runes and blood magic to keep him imprisoned for decades.
The Return of Evan and Victor
Decades later, in 2007, we meet Evan Marshall (played by Dominic Purcell), a paramedic living an ordinary life. His brother Victor Marshall (Henry Cavill) suddenly reappears after being missing for two years. Victor, traumatized and vengeful, reveals he was kidnapped by the Wollners and insists they must return to the farm to “finish it.” He’s determined to destroy the evil that took his freedom.
Evan reluctantly agrees, and the two brothers arm themselves for a mission of revenge. What begins as a rescue quickly turns into a nightmarish battle against an ancient evil.
The Awakening of Wirth
Upon returning to the farm, they discover the Wollner family still alive — but strangely ageless. It turns out they have been kept young by the dark magic that traps Wirth. Their immortality comes at a price: they must periodically sacrifice others to maintain the spell that keeps him confined.
But something goes wrong — Wirth awakens. Having spent decades absorbing dark energy, he is now a ghastly, undead Nazi monster who feeds on human blood. He can regenerate wounds and control animals, using ravens and horses as extensions of his will. The farm turns into a war zone as the brothers fight to survive.
The Battle at the Farm
Victor and Evan, together with the guilt-ridden Wollners, engage in a desperate fight against Wirth. The creature proves nearly unstoppable. Victor is severely wounded, and the brothers are forced to use whatever weapons they can find — axes, guns, even fire — but Wirth keeps regenerating.
Through clues left behind by the Wollners’ ancestors, Evan learns that the rune stone’s power can be reversed by using Wirth’s own blood against him. In a violent and bloody final battle, Evan manages to impale Wirth and trap him within the runes once again — but only temporarily.
Movie Ending
In the final moments, Wirth’s body is burned, and his ashes are buried under the rune stone, seemingly ending his reign of terror. Victor dies from his injuries, leaving Evan devastated but resolute. However, as Evan explores Wirth’s hidden journals and Nazi maps, he discovers something chilling — Wirth was not the only one. There are other occult agents who were sent to America during the war, each guarding their own rune stones and pursuing immortality.
The movie ends with Evan driving off into the night, armed with his brother’s weapons and a map showing multiple other sites. His mission is clear: he will hunt down and destroy the rest of the Nazi occultists. The final shot teases a much larger supernatural war that never came to fruition, as no sequel was made.
It’s an ending that leaves the viewer both satisfied and haunted — a sense that the evil wasn’t truly destroyed, only delayed.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Blood Creek does not have any post-credits scenes. The film ends definitively with Evan setting out on his new mission. The credits roll without any further footage or teases.
Type of Movie
Blood Creek is a supernatural horror-thriller with strong elements of occultism, revenge, and action. Think Indiana Jones meets 30 Days of Night, with a gritty, dark tone that borders on gothic horror.
Cast
- Henry Cavill as Victor Marshall
- Dominic Purcell as Evan Marshall
- Michael Fassbender as Richard Wirth
- Emma Booth as Liese Wollner
- Shea Whigham as Karl Wollner
- Rainer Winkelvoss as Otto Wollner
- Joy McBrinn as Mrs. Wollner
Film Music and Composer
The music was composed by David Buckley, known for blending traditional orchestral tension with industrial tones. His score in Blood Creek enhances the grim, claustrophobic atmosphere, especially during the scenes involving Wirth’s occult rituals and the final showdown.
Filming Locations
The movie was filmed primarily in Bucharest, Romania, even though the story takes place in West Virginia. Romania was chosen for its gothic landscapes and forested countryside, which fit perfectly with the eerie, isolated farm setting. The production also took advantage of Romanian architecture to give the film an old-world, almost mythic feeling — reinforcing the movie’s blend of historical and supernatural themes.
Awards and Nominations
Blood Creek didn’t win or receive major nominations, partly because it had a limited theatrical release. However, the performances of Michael Fassbender and the film’s production design have since been praised by cult horror fans for their intensity and visual flair.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Joel Schumacher returned to his darker roots after directing big-budget hits like Batman Forever and Phone Booth.
- The film was originally titled Town Creek, but was renamed Blood Creek for U.S. distribution.
- Michael Fassbender reportedly spent hours in prosthetic makeup each day to transform into the undead Wirth.
- The movie’s script was written years before Inglourious Basterds — making it one of the earlier films to mix Nazi mythology with supernatural horror.
- The studio cut nearly 15 minutes from the original version to make it faster-paced, which left some fans wanting more backstory.
Inspirations and References
The film draws inspiration from real-world Nazi occult research, particularly the Ahnenerbe, a real SS organization that conducted pseudo-scientific experiments searching for mystical relics. The rune stones and blood rituals reflect mythological references from Norse and Germanic paganism. There are also shades of Hellboy and Wolfenstein in its portrayal of Nazis obsessed with supernatural power.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
A few scenes were reportedly cut from the final version, including:
- A longer flashback showing how the Wollners originally trapped Wirth.
- A scene revealing Evan’s PTSD from the war, which gave more depth to his character.
- An alternate ending (unconfirmed) where Evan discovers a second Nazi creature already active in another town — setting up a potential sequel that never happened.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Blood Creek is not based on a book, but it borrows heavily from the tone and aesthetic of pulp horror and historical occult fiction. It feels inspired by works like The Keep (1981 novel by F. Paul Wilson) and Raiders of the Lost Ark, both of which combine Nazi villains with supernatural elements.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Wirth’s horrifying first resurrection scene, where he drains a horse’s blood to regenerate.
- The tense family dinner when Evan realizes the Wollners haven’t aged in 70 years.
- Victor’s sacrifice during the final battle, giving Evan the chance to end Wirth.
- Evan burning the runes and walking away from the farm at sunrise, setting up the implied sequel.
Iconic Quotes
- Wirth: “Blood remembers. Blood commands.”
- Victor: “We came here to kill a man, not to fight a demon.”
- Evan: “If there are others like him, I’ll find them.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The number 88 appears subtly in several places — a hidden reference to Nazi symbolism.
- The rune carvings in the stone resemble real Norse runes used in protection spells.
- The Wollners’ family photos include a date (1936) that matches the year of the Berlin Olympics — linking them to the height of Nazi propaganda.
Trivia
- Michael Fassbender filmed Blood Creek just before his breakout role in Inglourious Basterds.
- Henry Cavill’s performance was shot before he became Superman in Man of Steel.
- Joel Schumacher claimed that the original script was “a horror version of a World War II conspiracy thriller.”
- The film was shot in under 40 days.
Why Watch?
If you enjoy dark supernatural thrillers with historical twists, Blood Creek is a hidden gem. It’s grim, brutal, and surprisingly atmospheric, blending Nazi occult horror with tight, relentless action. The combination of Fassbender’s eerie performance and Schumacher’s gothic visual style makes it worth the watch for fans of dark fantasy horror.
Director’s Other Movies
Recommended Films for Fans
- The Keep (1983)
- Overlord (2018)
- Hellboy (2004)
- The Void (2016)
- Constantine (2005)
- Event Horizon (1997)
