When my ears hear the words "there will be blood," the first thing that comes to mind is the Saw franchise. That phrase has played a prominent part in their advertising since it first hit the big screen in 2004. It was as if they were reminding us horror aficionados that horror films could still have blood in them, even in this age of sanitized PG-13 fare. There, you see? That's what happens when I hear that particular combination of words.

What doesn't come to mind, or rather didn't prior to seeing Paul Thomas Anderson's latest creation, was oil fields. Now, those words bring to mind fields of oil, charismatic young preachers, and an electrifying performance from Daniel Day-Lewis. You see, Anderson has reclaimed those words from the horror genre and given them back to world. Words once appropriated for diabolical purposes have now been freed for use among all of society, rather than a bloodthirsty subset. But this is not why we are here. We are here to take a look at a rather extraordinary film that caught me off guard by its excellence, as well as by the way it kept me at a distance.

As I left the theater, I was struck by the simple complexity of the narrative at work within this film. At the same time, I wondered if it was possible to truly love a film and not feel particularly invested in what was going on. Weird thing to think about, but can you honestly say that you understood, or felt as if personally spoken to in every movie that you like?

There Will Be Blood is an electrifying, captivating tale that held me at attention for its entire running time. The fantastic score, searing performances, breathtaking cinematography, and the intriguing tale held me at attention. However, at no point in the movie did I ever feel connected with the characters. There was no emotional investment, at least for me. I did not care what would become of Daniel Plainview or Eli Sunday, or anyone for that matter. The film felt cold and clinical at times, not unlike some of Stanley Kubrick's work.

This all left me wondering — why did I like it? Why do I consider it one of the best films of 2007? How can I like it if I cared not for the characters it contained? I tell you, it is a weird feeling. I have felt it before, although the film titles escape my grasp.