A family of incestuous Dutch aristocrats emigrates to New England, and 300 years later, their long-lost descendent returns to the ancestral environs to research his rare blood disorder in this low-budget horror flick based on a mothballed Dan O'Bannon script. Orphan John (Roy Dupuis) yearns for more information about his family -- and the genetic disorder that threatens his life. Arriving on the Maine island to which he's traced his ancestry, just as its cemetary is being dug up and relocated due to health-code violations, he and his wife, Kathleen (Kristin Lehman) encounter a gin-soaked old M.D. (Rutger Hauer) who agrees to help them in their search for more information. Meanwhile, residents of the island begin to disappear one by one and it appears that a race of horrific mutants is to blame. Slowly realizing the links between John's family legacy and the attacks, the island's surviving residents band together to fend off the monstrous threat. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Review
The best thing about this half-baked horror quickie is the sickening, if amateurish, puppetry used to portray the legless, embalming fluid-addicted hermaphrodites that threaten a small island village. French-Canadian heartthrob Roy Dupuis of television's La Femme Nikita brings tortured goth angst to the role of John, the prodigal son of the incestuous mutant dynasty. Unfortunately, though, an allegedly over-the-top love scene with co-star Kristin Lehman was excised for the American release, leaving only a disgusting epilogue involving John's deformed but loving sister/brother for sexual titilation. Elsewhere, Rutger Hauer brings his usual B-movie up-for-it-ness to the role of the doctor who assists John in his quest, while Leni Parker plays a memorable bit part as mute islander Baby Laura, who figures prominently in the village-against-the-mutants finale. Laughably inept even by low-budget horror standards, Hemoglobin nevertheless demonstrates that salacious gothic clichés and grotesquely novel special effects can provide some marginal entertainment value even when they're executed remarkably poorly. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
John (Roy Dupuis) and Kathleen (Kristin Lehman) Strauss are a couple attempting to uncover the secret to John's rare blood disease. Along the way, they encounter Dr. Marlowe (Rutger Hauer), who is intrigued by the case. Little do they know that the island which they are about to set foot upon is home to the Van Dam family, mutant-like creatures who have become deformed and bloodthirsty from centuries of inbreeding. Their mutation began with their relative Eva Van Dam, who had an incestuous relationship with her twin brother. Also, they are fully functioning hermaphrodites, capable of reproducing with themselves. Conveniently, they need to survive on (dead or alive) human flesh.
John eventually discovers that he is in fact a Van Dam, who was born normal looking, and was therefore allowed into normal society. His rare blood disease stems from the fact that he needs human flesh and sex with his siblings in order to function properly.
